The Space Force reached its recruiting goal within the first five months of fiscal year 2026, Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna told a congressional committee in February. (Jonathan Mallard/U.S. Air Force)
The Air Force and Space Force surpassed their annual recruiting goals five months ahead of schedule by signing up about 32,000 new recruits, according to a news release Thursday.
Since Oct. 1, 25,000 active-duty recruits have reported to the services’ only basic military training hub at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, the release said. Another 7,000 are scheduled to report by Sept. 30.
The Space Force reached its recruiting goal within the first five months of fiscal year 2026, Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna told a congressional committee in February.
The Air Force has also steadily increased the number of recruits in its Delayed Entry Program over the past decade, with 18,000 awaiting ship-out dates, according to the release, enabling the service to make goal five months early.
“The Air Force and Space Force continue to set records, build momentum, and consistently exceed their recruiting goals,” Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said in the release. “By reaching our annual target five months early and maintaining the largest [Delayed Entry Program] in over a decade, we are seeing a truly inspiring pipeline of dedicated volunteers who are eager for their chance to serve.”
A spokesperson for Meink could not be reached for further information after business hours Thursday in Washington, D.C.
The Air Force missed its 2023 recruiting goal by 2,700 recruits for the first time since 1999. The Space Force has met its goals every year since it was created in 2019, according to the release.
“Even with this progress, to confront the threats of today and tomorrow, doubling the size of U.S. Space Force is a national security necessity,” Bentivegna said in his testimony to Congress.
The Space Force must continue to grow to meet its mission, he added.
“While achieving a force of over 10,000 uniformed Guardians in 2025 was a landmark milestone, it is insufficient for the missions we have been assigned,” he said. “To effectively fulfill our national mandate, we must increase our infrastructure and double our size. This critical expansion is not only necessary but entirely achievable.”
