Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced during a commencement address at the United States Military Academy at West Point that the United States Army has met its 2026 recruiting goal four months ahead of schedule. The service is set to bring in 61,500 new soldiers, marking a second consecutive year of exceeding recruitment targets after surpassing its 2025 goal.

Hegseth praised the incoming class and credited renewed commitment to service among young Americans. He emphasized that the Army plans to expand further next year and told graduating cadets they would soon lead growing formations in an increasingly dangerous global environment.

In his speech, Hegseth sharply criticized prior military policies that promoted diversity and inclusion initiatives, arguing that unity and merit should define the armed forces. He stressed that combat effectiveness depends on cohesion and readiness rather than social policy debates.

The secretary also highlighted recent deployments to the Middle East to counter Iranian-backed forces and underscored the Army’s role in deterring threats abroad. Framing military service as a selfless calling, he encouraged cadets to remain grounded in faith and duty as they prepare for high intensity conflict.