{"id":75651,"date":"2023-12-14T13:54:27","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T13:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/12\/14\/amid-recruiting-woes-active-duty-end-strength-to-drop-again-in-2024\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:34:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:34:26","slug":"amid-recruiting-woes-active-duty-end-strength-to-drop-again-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2023\/12\/14\/amid-recruiting-woes-active-duty-end-strength-to-drop-again-in-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Amid recruiting woes, active duty end strength to drop again in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The smallest U.S. military force in more than 80 years<\/a> is about to get even smaller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under end strength levels outlined in the annual defense authorization bill<\/a> passed by the Senate Wednesday evening and expected to be passed by the House on Thursday, the total number of active-duty troops in the armed forces will drop to 1,284,500 in fiscal 2024. That\u2019s down nearly 64,000 personnel in the last three years and the smallest total for America\u2019s military since 1940, before the United States\u2019 entry into World War II.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lawmakers say the reason for the lower target isn\u2019t a decrease in missions or threats in recent years. Instead, the number reflects recruiting challenges across the services<\/a> and an expectation of what level of personnel is realistic in coming months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite bipartisan support for the authorization bill calling for a reduced force size, several lawmakers said they are worried the reduction is already putting the country at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need a larger force, in every branch,\u201d said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.<\/a>, and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. \u201cBut the reality of recruiting is driving the numbers, not what we actually need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t