US Army hits 2026 recruiting goals four months early, Hegseth announces

The U.S. Army has met its 2026 recruiting goals four months early, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced in his commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, on Saturday.

“Hiring is on the rise across the joint force, and I am pleased to announce just two days ago that the U.S. Army has met its 2026 recruiting goals four months early,” Hegseth said.

“It’s a second record year in a row. That means you’re about to train this group here and lead 61,500 new soldiers. And next year, when we increase the size of the military, when you’re at the tip of the spear as platoon leaders in your formations, it’s going to be even more so, you’re going to be at the tip of their recoil spears.”,” he continued.

The Army set a goal of 61,000 in 2025 and exceeded that goal with 62,050. According to the Pentagon.

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“The men and women who choose to serve our nation actively demonstrate their commitment to something greater than themselves,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Danny Basham, command sergeant major of the United States Army Recruiting Division. he said in a statement. “The nation depends on its strength, character and loyalty.”

During Hegseth’s speech, the secretary of war also criticized previous military policy that focused on diversity targets and “anti-American ideologies.”

“They embraced the DEI craze and tried to promote diversity and inclusion studies and hired professors who espouse anti-American ideologies right here in these halls. But no more. West Point is in a separate location. This is special. It is above politics. Here, success is based on merit. What matters is how you perform. “This is the United States Military Academy,” he said.

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“The single stupidest statement in military history was uttered in our military just a few years ago. You all probably heard it in your first two years at West Point. Our diversity is our strength. The single dumbest quote in military history,” he said.

“We had generals who said this openly on national television. This was absolute nonsense. Now, such nonsense may be laughed at when it occurs in a civilian hall or civilian faculty hall, or discussed in graduate seminars, but it cannot be tolerated in our formations. These ideas are what get people killed. Diversity is not our strength. Unity is our strength,” Hegseth said to applause.

He went on to praise the graduating students and paint a picture of a dangerous world they face.

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U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to graduating cadets during the U.S. Military Academy commencement ceremony at U.S. Military Academy Michie Stadium in West Point, New York, May 23, 2026. WE (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

“You are in a dangerous line of work, and there is no world of high-intensity conflict without great pain, suffering, disease, and human tragedies. We train warriors in this War Department. Purpose-built, not for fair weather, blue skies, or flashy parades. Built to be loaded into the back of helicopters, C-17s, or Strykers in the dead of night, fair weather or bad weather, to go into dangerous places, to engage those who would harm our nation.” “We have been vindicated, and our citizens are waging a close and brutal fight and achieving justice on behalf of the American people,” he continued.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth receives a gift during the U.S. Military Academy commencement ceremony held at the U.S. Military Academy’s Michie Stadium in West Point, New York, May 23, 2026. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

“But what makes us different is that we don’t fight because we hate what’s in front of us. We fight because we love what’s behind us. Our family, our freedom, and our flag. The battlefield isn’t graded on a curve, and you can’t throw your pronouns at the enemy. War is the ultimate test, and our best Americans must achieve it,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth’s speech touched heavily on faith as he read a verse from Isaiah 6:8. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ and I said ‘Here I am! Send me,’” Hegseth read.

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“Send to me is a call to timeless, selfless service,” he said.

He also invoked Charlie Kirk when imploring students to always seek God.

“As Charlie Kirk often says, ‘Always remember, this too shall pass.’ Good times will pass. Bad times will pass. You are never as good as you think, nor as bad as you think. “Seek God in every situation,” he said.

Hegseth spoke Saturday as the United States considered resuming new military actions against Iran because a peace deal remains in limbo. The secretary of war discussed what was required of the US military during Operation Epic Rage.

“Your soldiers must be ready for anything, because the world is becoming increasingly complex. Just look at what our soldiers have done in the last few months, we have asked our airborne and rapid response forces to deploy to the Middle East as soon as possible, acting as an iron shield to protect American bases and American lives from Iran’s proxies. This includes U.S. Army units that used HIMARS to sink the Iranian Navy. I know the Army loves to sink the Navy. That’s the only Navy name you’re allowed to sink right now.”,” Hegseth joked, referencing the known friendly rivalry between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy.

President Donald Trump will hold a conference call with Arab leaders on Saturday afternoon to hear their views on a draft agreement with Iran. The President reportedly he told Axios early Saturday. It’s “definitely 50/50” on whether a “good” deal can be reached or whether he can “fly them to the kingdom.”