On June 7, 2026, Haiti’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the completion of selection procedures for the latest cohort of recruits joining the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H), with the final selection round wrapping up on July 5. After navigating a rigorous multi-stage vetting process that evaluated medical fitness, physical endurance, psychotechnical aptitude, and administrative eligibility, 665 candidates have officially earned a spot in the new recruit class, including 98 women who will move forward to start their foundational military training.
This step marks a key milestone in the Haitian government’s broader strategic push to rebuild and modernize the country’s national armed forces. The administration has framed the expansion of FAd’H as a core priority to enhance the military’s operational capacity, ultimately building a professional, disciplined, and fully functional military institution that can effectively respond to persistent national security challenges and support long-term national development initiatives.
Looking ahead, defense officials have announced that a second round of recruitment will launch immediately after this initial cohort is deployed to their active units. As part of this next phase, 2,000 additional candidates will be called to participate in the same standardized selection testing process that guided the current intake.
To uphold core values of transparency, inclusivity, and equal opportunity, the upcoming selection process will draw from candidate pools registered at recruitment centers across all of Haiti’s major urban centers. This decentralized geographic approach is designed to ensure balanced regional representation in the armed forces, guaranteeing that any qualified applicant from across the country has an equal chance to serve in FAd’H ranks.