U.S. Army projected to miss recruiting goals by tens of thousands

The Army is forecasted to fall short of its recruiting and retention goals over the next two years by tens of thousands of troops, top Army leaders warned in a memo released Wednesday. 

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and chief of staff of the Army Gen. James McConville wrote the Army will end the fiscal year with 466,400 soldiers, close to 20,000 fewer than the budgeted target, and could further decrease to between 445,000-452,000 by the end of the 2023 fiscal year. . 

The memo from Wormuth and McConville cited the post-COVID labor market, competition with the private sector, and a declining number of young people who are qualified and want to serve.