{"id":45362,"date":"2023-03-13T22:49:25","date_gmt":"2023-03-13T22:49:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/03\/13\/navy-seeks-to-increase-end-strength-amid-recruitment-challenges\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:11:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:11:56","slug":"navy-seeks-to-increase-end-strength-amid-recruitment-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/03\/13\/navy-seeks-to-increase-end-strength-amid-recruitment-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Navy seeks to increase end strength amid recruitment challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Navy aims to bolster its active-duty end strength by more than 5,000 sailors next fiscal year, despite the difficulties all the services are having with recruiting and retaining service members<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its $255.8 billion fiscal 2024 budget request<\/a>, which includes $53.2 billion for the Marine Corps, the Department of the Navy has asked Congress to approve an active naval force of 347,000 enlisted sailors and officers, up from the estimated 341,736 sailors serving this fiscal year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bump stems from an increase in enlisted personnel. The budget plan proposes a force comprising: 56,506 officers, a 146-officer decrease from this fiscal year; 286,144 enlisted personnel, an increase of 5,470 sailors; and 4,350 midshipmen, down from 4,410.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFaced with a challenging recruiting environment, the Navy increased enlistment bonuses in FY 2022 and will continue to do so as necessary,\u201d the budget document says. \u201cRetention has also been difficult with a strong national economy, so bonuses and incentives to retain our current naval force [are] a priority. To attract the most talented and diverse workforce, the Navy continues to evaluate its compensation package and admission requirements, and how it reaches potential recruits through advertising and career events.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Factors such as more thorough medical screenings, fewer Americans eligible to serve, and low civilian unemployment are driving the recruiting challenges, according to service leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy also aims to attract an additional 1,000 Navy Reserve personnel in FY24, totaling 57,200 reservists. The service is proposing a force of 46,873 drilling Navy Reserve reserve personnel, and 10,327 full-time-support personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\t