Likely due to the still shaky economy, the military services are continuing to reap recruiting dividends following a banner year in 2009. In the first month of the new fiscal year, according to the latest statistics released by the Pentagon last week, all the services and their reserve components achieved a hundred percent or better toward their enlisted recruiting goals for the month of October. And active duty retention remains on target; there was no corresponding information on reserve retention.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.
