WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Defense Department reported that all branches have surpassed recruitment goals for fiscal year 2025, with a notable increase in female enlistments. Nearly 24,000 women have joined the ranks so far this year, compared with about 16,700 at the same point last year, marking a significant surge in female participation.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson credited strong leadership under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald J. Trump for the momentum, noting that “citizens all across the country are enlisting to fight for this nation.”
Military Innovation and Drone Development
Alongside recruitment gains, the department is accelerating efforts in autonomous warfare technology. At Camp Atterbury in Indiana, the Pentagon hosted a “technology readiness experimentation” event, or T-REX, to test drones in simulated combat conditions.
The evaluations included systems such as Red Dragon, designed for operations in GPS-denied environments; the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System; and the WASP/HIVE launcher system capable of deploying multiple low-cost drones. Defense officials say these advancements are key to achieving American superiority in drone warfare.
“This is some of the most innovative tech we’ve ever built at the DOD,” said Emil Michael, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. He emphasized that most of the systems on display were developed within the last two years.
National Guard Role in D.C.
Meanwhile, the National Guard has been activated to support law enforcement in Washington, D.C., following President Trump’s declaration of a crime emergency in the capital. Roughly 800 Army and Air National Guard personnel have been called up, with 200 deployed on the streets at any given time. Their duties range from community patrols and monument security to traffic control and protection of federal facilities.
Wilson said the mission reflects the president’s commitment to restoring safety and order in the capital, where rising crime has raised public concern.
A Mascot’s Honor
In a lighter moment, the Marine Corps celebrated one of its most recognizable figures. Cpl. Chesty XVI, the Corps’ English bulldog mascot, received a medal for exemplary conduct from the Secretary of the Navy. Named after legendary Marine Lt. Gen. Lewis “Chesty” Puller, the bulldog serves as a symbol of grit and tradition within the Corps.
From record recruitment and cutting-edge military technology to public safety initiatives in the nation’s capital, the week’s updates underscore the Pentagon’s focus on readiness, modernization, and morale.
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