Secretary of War Pete Hegseth poses for a photo with troops at the Department of War’s Recruiting Excellence Forum at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Dec. 18, 2025. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brittany Fralick, a talent acquisitions specialist with the 108th Wing, New Jersey National Guard, is honored with a sabre salute during the Operation Blue Suit banquet at the Hidden Gem in New Braunfels, Texas, March 27, 2025. Fralick was recognized for accomplishments, along with other service recruiters, by War Secretary Pete Hegseth at the inaugural Recruitment Excellence Forum at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Dec. 18, 2025. (Courtesy Photo)

Senior Advisor to the Secretary of War (Strategy) Eric Geressy delivers remarks at the Department of War’s Recruiting Excellence Forum at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Dec. 18, 2025. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Three Pararescue Airmen from the 131st Rescue Squadron, 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, at left in orange, join for a group photo at Moffett Air National Guard Base in Mountain View with HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter aircrew members from the 129th Rescue Squadron, early in the morning of Dec. 17 after rescuing a woman with a medical emergency from the Ruby Princess cruise ship 130 nautical miles southwest of San Francisco. (Courtesy Photo)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Austin Hellweg, a special missions aviator from the 129th Rescue Squadron, 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, looks out at the Ruby Princess cruise ship early Wednesday morning, Dec. 17, 2025, during a rescue mission 130 nautical miles southwest of San Francisco to medically evacuate a woman from the ship to a hospital in San Jose, California. (Courtesy Photo)

Three brothers: Senior Airman Eithan Rush (left), 142nd Maintenance Squadron (MXS), Airman 1st Class Wyatt Rush (right), 142nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Jayden Mancilla, a new recruit coming into the propulsion flight in the 142nd MXS, pose for a group photo at Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Ore., Dec. 6, 2025. With Mancilla’s recent enlistment, all three brothers will be working in different areas to maintain the wing’s fleet of F-15’s. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by. Tech. Sgt. Alexander Frank)