Canadian Armed Forces Records Highest Recruitment in a Decade

Over the past year, the Canadian Armed Forces has recruited a record number of new enlistees—nearly 7,000 people. This exceeded the recruitment target and became a 10-year high.

Global News reported on this.

The publication notes that this is a sign of some progress in the recruitment crisis, but government officials acknowledge that significant challenges with personnel retention remain.

According to data obtained by the publication from the Canadian Department of National Defence, from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, 6,706 new recruits joined the army, exceeding the target of 6,496.

These figures represent a 55 percent increase compared to the previous year and are the highest in the past 10 years.

“These achievements highlight the success of recent changes in the Canadian Armed Forces recruitment process and the commitment to creating a more modern and efficient military,” Ministry spokesperson Derek Abma stated.

Pascal Belhumeur, Commander Military Personnel Generation Group, did not link this surge to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about annexation. According to him, it is still too early to determine the reasons behind the renewed interest.

He believes that the rise in the number of applicants is mainly due to efforts to modernize the forces and broaden the selection criteria. However, he also noted that other factors could be at play, such as economic uncertainty, effective recruitment campaigns, and an increasing number of Canadians reflecting on their national identity and asking, “Who are we as a country?”

Charlotte Duval-Lantoine, a defense analyst at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said that the recent recruitment figures are “encouraging and worth celebrating.” However, she emphasized that there are some caveats.

“Six thousand seven hundred and six new regular force members do not necessarily mean 6,706 active members after completing full training. Basic training is one of the stages in military life where attrition is highest,” Duval-Lantoine explained in an email to Global News.

The Canadian Armed Forces are currently short by approximately 14,000 personnel. The Canadian Department of National Defence’s aim is to reach a strength of 71,500 regular force members and 30,000 reservists by 2029.

Government officials say they are confident this time they will meet these targets, thanks to ongoing increases in military investment and what they describe as a changing demographic landscape.