Fewer reenlistment options for soldiers amid high Army retention
Story by Patty Nieberg • 12h
More soldiers chose to stay in the Army than the service expected this fiscal year, so much so that the Army has narrowed options for reenlistment or service extensions.
In fiscal year 2025, the Army retained 15,600 soldiers, which is 800 more than its original goal. The “retention success” is also compounded by the service exceeding 90% of its recruiting goals in May, Lt. Col. Orlandon Howard, an Army spokesperson, said in a statement.
In April, the Army announced that the current retention success meant it would limit reenlistment incentives offered to soldiers like picking their station of choice, certain training opportunities and overseas assignments. Now, the service is changing additional retention policies like suspending contract extensions for most soldiers and changing the time window for others who want to reenlist.
The policy changes come amid an upswing in the service’s retention of current soldiers and its recruitment of new ones — something that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has credited to President Donald Trump’s Administration, despite the surge beginning nearly a year ago.
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