National

Military hits 25-year high as recruits boost numbers

By Tess Ikonomou

Sep 15, 2026

Defence personal on parade (file image) — Australia's full-time military workforce is at its highest highest level in 25 years. -AAP Image

Thousands of recruits have pushed the Australian Defence Force to its biggest size in a quarter of a century, as tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific region.

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The nation's full-time military workforce grew to more than 64,000 defence force personnel, making it the largest in 25 years, data from the 2025/26 financial year shows.

This marks an increase of 3004 people on the previous year, and includes reservists and Gap Year members.

Australia will pump an extra $53 billion into defence over the next 10 years, as the federal government plans for spending to reach three per cent of economic output by 2033, under the NATO approach.

More than 8100 people enlisted during the same period, making it the highest overall intake since 2009/10.

The air force received its highest intake in 24 years (2235 people) the navy received its highest intake in 16 years (2009 people) and the army received its highest intake in 12 years (3942).

The number of people leaving the ADF was also down, with a separation rate of 7.4 per cent, the lowest in 15 years.

A one-off $50,000 sweetener was introduced in January 2024 to incentivise defence force personnel to stay for an additional three years of service.

As part of a workforce plan, the bonus program was extended and expanded.

Since July 2025, the program has provided two $40,000 incentives to encourage retention.

As at July 2026, more than 5148 eligible personnel accepted, marking an uptake rate of 82 per cent.

The government also reformed medical entry requirements and broadened the eligibility criteria so people with conditions including endometriosis and vitamin deficiencies weren't automatically rejected.

Labor was focused on recruitment, retention and skilling the workforce, Defence Minister Richard Marles said.

"We've already made significant progress, but we will continue to reform recruitment processes and retention initiatives over the long-term," he said.

Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said the people serving the nation remained the most valuable capability.

"Thanks to the Albanese government's interventions, the Defence workforce is growing, with more people putting their hand up to serve, and more personnel choosing to stick around for longer," he said.