APRIL 28, 2025 — The Army recently surpassed its fiscal year 2025 reenlistment goal by retaining 15,600 Soldiers, 800 more than the 14,800 target, well before the fiscal year ends on September 30, 2025. Soldiers whose service contracts expire between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, were eligible for reenlistment starting in March 2024.
Early reenlistment offered incentives like current station stabilization, specific training opportunities, overseas assignments, or choice of CONUS station. After April 21, 2025, options were limited to “needs of the Army” for Soldiers whose service expires before the new fiscal year, October 1, 2025.
“The early success in FY25 reenlistments, combined with the targeted retention strategy, is allowing the Army to effectively manage personnel requirements,” said Sgt. Maj. Enrique Rose, Senior Army Career Counselor. “This strategy helps the Army maintain a balanced and skilled force while supporting Soldiers’ career goals.”
While the Army’s retention goal has been met, eligible Soldiers can still reenlist for terms ranging from two to six years or opt for shorter extensions — three to 23 months. Retention bonuses are also still available for critical military occupational specialties. Additionally, the Army is encouraging Soldiers in overstaffed MOS to consider retraining for critical, understaffed fields.
Rose highlighted the Army’s prioritized MOSs for reenlistment. Most of them are in combat arms fields, which is consistent with the Army’s focus on warfighting and lethality. Examples include field artillery, air defense artillery, armor, and cyber and electronic warfare specialists.
The Army’s retention milestone follows the Army exceeding 85 percent of its FY25 recruiting goal by the midpoint of the fiscal year. Favorable trends in both areas have combined to bolster the Army’s end strength.
“Reaching our FY25 reenlistment goal ahead of schedule has put the Army in a good position to maintain a highly skilled and ready force,” said Rose. “Coupling that with the recruiting success we’ve seen makes a powerful statement about the Army’s future.”
Soldiers considering reenlisting should talk to a career counselor as soon as possible to continue to BE ALL YOU CAN BE!
By U.S. Army Public Affairs