Army surpasses Special Forces recruiting goal to end 15-year slump

Army recruiters met the service’s goal for recruiting Special Forces jobs for the first time in 15 years. Army Green Berets assigned to the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and Maj. Jeff Nelson, assigned to the 56th Troop Command (right), conduct a High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO) jump during Leapfest 2026 at Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich, R.I., on July 31, 2026. (David Poleski/U.S. Army) Army recruiters met the service’s goal for recruiting Special Forces jobs for the first time in 15 years, the Army said Thursday. The service signed 2,963 contracts for fiscal year 2026, 124 more than needed to complete the mission. Special Forces soldiers serve in specialties including weapons, intelligence, communications, medical and operations.

Known as Green Berets, the soldiers are stationed in Washington state, Japan, North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and Colorado. This accomplishment follows announcements that the Army also met its goals in recruiting active-duty soldiers four months ahead of schedule and filled the needs of the Army Reserve and National Guard. It was the first time in a decade that the Army Reserve fulfilled its recruiting mission. Higher recruit numbers allow the Army to focus on the needs of its most pressing career fields, including infantry, field artillery and armor, Lt. Gen. Johnny Davis, who leads U.S. Army Recruiting Command, said in a statement. He