Average Age of US Army Recruits Rises to 22.7

The average age of recruits to the US Army has increased compared to previous years, reaching 22.7 in fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026).

This figure, which covers both regular troops and reserves, indicates a noticeable shift in age compared to previous decades, according to Military Times.

For comparison, in the 2000s, the average age of recruits was 21.7, and in the 2010s, it was 21.1.

Army recruitment officials attribute this trend to a change in personnel recruitment strategy. Recruiters are now going beyond traditional channels of recruiting high school graduates in an effort to reach a wider pool of potential candidates.

According to Brigadier General Sarah Dudley, expanding the labor market has become a priority, allowing the recruitment of people with life experience.

What does the average age of recruits affect?

The Army is actively working to create mechanisms to reach older people whose initial career plans have not worked out. Dudley notes that such people often have a higher level of responsibility and motivation to serve. In addition, the Army increasingly needs specialists in narrow professional fields who, by definition, cannot be 18-year-old high school graduates.

Economists at the RAND Corporation suggest that this shift is significant and positive for the quality of the military. Older recruits typically have higher levels of education and better test scores, which does not diminish but rather strengthens the combat capability of units.