You can recruit soldiers in MGSV by extracting enemy troops or rescuing prisoners of war (POWs) with Fulton Recovery. Those recruits join Diamond Dogs, giving you a way to grow the organization’s ranks as you play The Phantom Pain. [1]
This guide focuses on ordinary personnel recruitment during gameplay, not the broader story of Diamond Dogs. For example, a mission can give you a chance to add personnel by abducting an enemy soldier or rescuing a POW; both routes use extraction to bring them into the organization. [1] The sections ahead walk through each route and explain what to watch for as you build your roster.
What to know before you head out
Before you deploy, make sure the modified Fulton-capable equipment you need is available; don’t plan a recovery around gear you can’t use. Enemy troops and prisoners of war are both recruitment candidates, but they’re different mission situations: one is an opposing soldier, while the other is a captive you encounter. Both are recovered with Fulton Recovery using modified choppers. [1]
That makes your pre-mission check practical: confirm the Fulton option is ready before you count on bringing anyone back. For example, if you spot a prisoner during an objective, or find an enemy soldier you want to recruit, the method described for either candidate is still Fulton Recovery. [1]
How to extract enemy soldiers
Identify an enemy soldier during your mission. Pick someone you can approach without drawing unwanted attention; for example, watch a patrol and wait until the soldier is separated from the group.
Approach and incapacitate the soldier with a tactic available to you. Once they are down, position yourself to use Fulton Recovery rather than leaving them where the patrol might find them.
Use Fulton Recovery when mission conditions allow. Diamond Dogs recruits enemy soldiers through abduction with Fulton Recovery, using modified choppers. [1] If the extraction cannot proceed, deal with the immediate situation and try again when conditions permit.
Confirm the extraction is complete before treating the soldier as a recruit. Afterward, check that the soldier has been added to Diamond Dogs; an incapacitated soldier who is still on the ground has not completed this process.
Keep the sequence simple: identify, incapacitate, extract, then verify. For example, if you spot a lone guard on a patrol route, wait for a safe opening, take them down, and complete the extraction before moving on.
How to recruit soldiers by rescuing POWs
Look for POWs during missions. As you move through an area, check for prisoners who may need rescuing; a POW you find can become a recruitment opportunity. [1] You can add this check to your usual route through an outpost or mission area rather than focusing only on enemy patrols.
Free the prisoner. Reach the POW and release them before attempting the extraction. Keep track of where you left them as you move into position, so you can return and complete the rescue instead of leaving them behind.
Use Fulton Recovery to extract the POW. Fulton Recovery is the method used to bring rescued POWs into Diamond Dogs. [1] Once the prisoner is free, extract them rather than treating the rescue itself as the final step.
Rescuing and extracting a POW is an alternative to extracting an enemy soldier: both routes can bring personnel into Diamond Dogs. [1] So, when you scan a mission area, look beyond its guards—an imprisoned character may be another chance to build the roster.
Common extraction mistakes to avoid
Before you move on, make sure the extraction has actually finished; a candidate is not secured just because you started the process. If you leave the mission area or get distracted before the Fulton lift completes, check your results afterward instead of assuming that soldier was added to Diamond Dogs.
For a POW, freeing them is not the same as getting them out. If your goal is recruitment, stay long enough to complete the extraction rather than leaving the prisoner behind; POWs are recruited by rescue and Fulton Recovery. [1]
Also, don’t treat every mission as if it guarantees a successful pickup. Check your gear and the circumstances around the candidate before committing to an extraction, and be ready to adjust your plan if conditions prevent it. For example, avoid building your route around a pickup until you’ve confirmed you can complete it.
Questions about recruiting in MGSV
Can you recruit enemy soldiers in MGSV?
Yes. Enemy soldiers can join Diamond Dogs after you abduct them with Fulton Recovery. [1] For example, if you spot a guard during a mission, the general route is to extract that enemy rather than leave them in the field.
Can you recruit POWs?
Yes. Rescue a prisoner of war and extract them with Fulton Recovery to bring them into Diamond Dogs. [1] If you find a POW during an objective, freeing them alone is not the full recruitment step; extraction is part of it.
Do Quiet and D-Dog count as ordinary recruits?
No. This FAQ covers ordinary personnel, not special characters such as Quiet or D-Dog. [2] Their recruitment is a separate topic, so use the soldier and POW routes here when you want to add regular personnel.
Which route should you use?
Choose based on who you encounter: enemy soldiers are abducted, while POWs are rescued and extracted. [1] In practice, check the situation in front of you—a hostile guard and a captive call for different approaches, even though Fulton Recovery is involved in both.
Build Diamond Dogs one extraction at a time
Keep building Diamond Dogs by finishing successful Fulton Recovery, whether you extract enemy troops or rescue and extract POWs. Those are the two recruitment routes to look for as you work through missions. [1]
Make a quick scan for recruitment opportunities part of your mission routine: check likely areas for enemy personnel or prisoners, then focus on completing the extraction when you find a candidate. For example, a mission with a POW offers a different opportunity from one where you spot enemy troops. [1]
The practical goal is not simply to find a candidate, but to finish the recovery. On your next sortie, keep an eye out for both routes and make successful Fulton Recovery your priority whenever you choose to recruit someone.