Recruitment Success in Alabama
The Alabama National Guard has exceeded its recruiting goals halfway through the 2025 fiscal year. This surge in enlistments follows key policy changes introduced by the new Trump administration.
The federal government and military fiscal years run from October 1 to September 30. By March, the Alabama National Guard had already reached its annual recruitment targets.
According to Maj. Gen. David Pritchett, Alabama’s Adjutant General, the state has consistently performed well in recruitment. However, 2025 has brought an unexpected boost.
“Our recruiters have done a phenomenal job,” Pritchett said. “We’ve been successful over the past several years, even when other states struggled. We put our best people in recruiting, and it’s paying off.”
The Alabama National Guard also hired additional recruiters to strengthen its efforts. Pritchett emphasized that reaching the goal this early is uncommon.
“We’re not stopping,” he added. “We aim to grow our force structure and bring more units to Alabama.”
National Trends in Military Recruitment
Pritchett noted that military branches across the country have reported similar increases. He credited the change in administration for these improved results.
“What I heard in D.C. from four-star generals is that all services have seen a bump in recruiting,” he said. “This is happening regardless of political opinions.”
The rise in enlistments coincides with executive orders signed by President Donald Trump after taking office in January. These orders reinstated service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. They also repealed policies on transgender service members, DEI initiatives, and divisive concept training.
Alabama’s Strength in Numbers
The Alabama Army National Guard met its 2024 recruiting goal with 10,192 soldiers. By early 2025, it had already reached 10,331 soldiers—105% of its force structure allowance of 9,859 positions.
“In other words, we have more soldiers than available positions,” Pritchett explained. “This strengthens our ability to compete for future force structure.”
Looking Ahead
With its strong recruiting numbers, Alabama could receive additional military resources and units. This success positions the state as a leader in National Guard enlistments.
The Alabama National Guard remains committed to growth and preparedness. As policies continue to shift under the new administration, recruitment numbers could climb even higher in the coming months.
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