Canadian military surpasses 2025 recruitment goal, hits 10-year high – National [Video]

Nearly 7,000 people joined Canada’s military over the last year, exceeding the Canadian Armed Forces’ recruitment goal and marking a 10-year high in enrollment.

More recruits are enlisting at a time of heightened focus on Canadian sovereignty, and as Prime Minister Mark Carney vows to rebuild the military and reduce reliance on the United States.

It’s a sign of some progress in a recruitment crisis the previous defence minister described as a “death spiral,” but government officials acknowledge significant problems with retention remain.

The Department of Defence released numbers to Global News on Monday, showing that 6,706 recruits enrolled in the regular forces between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, surpassing its target of 6,496.

The figures represent a 55 per cent increase from the previous year and a 10-year peak.

“These milestones highlight the success of the CAF (Canadian Armed Forces) recent changes to the recruitment process, and commitment to building a more modern and effective military,” department spokesperson Derek Abma …