The Canadian Armed Forces has recorded its highest level of recruitment in more than three decades, exceeding its annual target for a second consecutive year.
National Defence Minister David McGuinty said Monday that 7,310 new members were enrolled in the Regular Force during the 2025-26 fiscal year, surpassing the target of 6,957.
The increase follows changes to military pay and compensation announced last year, which provided a long-awaited raise for service members.
The military has set a higher recruitment objective of 8,200 new members for the 2026-27 fiscal year as it looks to expand capacity and meet operational demands at home and abroad.
Officials say a new Digital Onboarding System will be introduced in the coming year to streamline early stages of recruitment and better prepare candidates before basic training. The system will focus on administrative readiness, early engagement, and foundational mental and physical preparation.
Recruitment performance has shown steady growth, with the armed forces continuing to adapt processes to respond to changing conditions and demand.
“The Canadian Armed Forces’ continued recruiting success signals more than progress—it reflects a renewed strength at the core of our military. Our investments are delivering, and we are accelerating that momentum by modernizing recruitment, removing barriers to service, and upholding the high standards that ensure the CAF remains ready to defend Canada—at home and around the world,” McGuinty said in a statement.
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan said growing the force is essential to meeting defence commitments.
“Our ability to deliver for Canadians starts with our people. Growing our ranks is essential to meeting Canada’s defence commitments at home and alongside our allies abroad, and we are seeing real progress as we modernize how we recruit and bring new members into the force,” she said.
Lt.-Gen. Erick Simoneau, Chief of Military Personnel, said recruitment remains the foundation of a strong military.
“Recruiting success is the foundation of a strong, resilient Canadian Armed Forces. With a new recruiting objective ahead, we continue to modernize how we attract and select individuals for service—while having the people, training capacity, and systems in place to support them throughout their careers,” he said.
The armed forces reported a Regular Force strength of 67,827 members as of April 2026, with nearly 5,000 added over the past two years. The military is aiming to reach 71,500 Regular Force members by 2029, along with 30,000 Reserve Force members.
Officials say expanding training capacity and modernizing recruitment systems will be key to sustaining growth and supporting new members throughout their careers.
