Fact Check: "Trump said after getting rid of 'wokeness' military recruitment had 'among the best recruiting results ever.' The trend of rising military recruitment started under the Biden administration amid efforts to boost enlistment including prep training courses."
What We Know
The claim revolves around President Donald Trump's assertion that military recruitment improved significantly after addressing what he termed "wokeness." However, data from the U.S. Army indicates that recruitment trends began to improve prior to Trump's comments, particularly due to initiatives implemented during the Biden administration. According to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, the Army is on track to meet its enlistment goals for 2025, marking a turnaround from previous years when recruitment struggled significantly. In fact, Wormuth noted that the first quarter contracts signed in 2024 were the highest in the last decade, and a significant factor in this improvement was the introduction of the Future Soldier Prep Course, which began in August 2022, aimed at helping lower-performing recruits meet military standards (AP News).
Furthermore, surveys conducted by the Army revealed that concerns about "wokeness" were not a significant deterrent for potential recruits. In a survey, only 5% of respondents cited "wokeness" as a reason for not enlisting, while traditional concerns such as safety and career disruption were more prevalent (AP News).
Analysis
The claim that military recruitment surged due to the removal of "wokeness" is misleading. While Trump and his supporters assert that a surge in recruitment is linked to a shift away from "woke" policies, Army officials have explicitly stated that this narrative does not align with the data. Wormuth has firmly rejected the notion that "wokeness" was a significant factor in the Army's recruitment challenges, emphasizing that the primary issues were related to safety concerns and the perception of military life (AP News, AP News).
Moreover, the Army's recruitment success can be attributed to specific programs designed to enhance enlistment, such as the Future Soldier Prep Course, which has been instrumental in preparing recruits for basic training. This initiative has reportedly contributed to about 30% of the Army's recruits in the current fiscal year (AP News).
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, as they are based on official statements from Army leadership and data collected through structured surveys. The Associated Press, as a reputable news organization, provides a credible account of the Army's recruitment efforts and challenges.
Conclusion
The verdict on the claim is Partially True. While it is accurate that military recruitment has seen improvements, attributing this solely to the removal of "wokeness" is misleading. The upward trend in recruitment began under the Biden administration, largely due to targeted initiatives like the Future Soldier Prep Course. Additionally, evidence suggests that concerns about "wokeness" are not a primary factor influencing enlistment decisions among young Americans.
