This study describes and analyses volunteer recruitment to the Swedish Armed Forces (SwAF) during the voluntary recruitment years between 2011 and 2017 and compares the results with previous conscription years. The analysis includes performance data from the admission test; a quality measure that has seldom been reported. The results show that the psychological and physical quality were slightly higher among volunteers than conscripts. Additionally, the proportion of women increased under the volunteer recruitment system, where both genders applied on equal terms. Despite the improvements in quality, the quantity of applicants was insufficient to fill all positions in the basic military training and within the SwAF during the years of voluntary recruitment.