Every branch of the U.S. military is struggling to meet its fiscal year 2022 recruiting goals, say multiple U.S. military and defense officials, and numbers obtained by NBC News show both a record low percentage of young Americans eligible to serve and an even tinier fraction willing to consider it.

The officials said the Pentagon’s top leaders are now scrambling for ways to find new recruits to fill out the ranks of the all-volunteer force. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks consider the shortfall a serious issue, said the officials, and have been meeting on it frequently with other leaders.

“This is the start of a long drought for military recruiting,” said Ret. Lt. Gen. Thomas Spoehr of the Heritage Foundation, a think tank. He said the military has not had such a hard time signing recruits since 1973, the year the U.S. left Vietnam and the draft officially ended. Spoehr said he does not believe a revival of the draft is imminent, but “2022 is the year we question the sustainability of the all-volunteer force.”

The pool of those eligible to join the military continues to shrink, with more young men and women than ever disqualified for obesity, drug use or criminal records. Last month, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville testified before Congress that only 23% of Americans ages 17-24 are qualified to serve without a waiver to join, down from 29% in recent years.

An internal Defense Department survey obtained by NBC News found that only 9% of those young Americans eligible to serve in the military had any inclination to do so, the lowest number since 2007.

The survey sheds light on how both Americans’ view of the military and the growing civilian-military divide may also be factors in slumping recruitment, and how public attitudes could cause recruiting struggles for years to come.


How 'Top Gun' sequel could help boost military recruitment
More than half of the young Americans who answered the survey — about 57% — think they would have emotional or psychological problems after serving in the military. Nearly half think they would have physical problems.

“They think they’re going to be physically or emotionally broken after serving,” said one senior U.S. military official familiar with the recruiting issues, who believes a lack of familiarity with military service contributes to that perception.

Among Americans surveyed by the Pentagon who were in the target age range for recruiting, only 13% had parents who had served in the military, down from approximately 40% in 1995. The military considers parents one of the biggest influencers for service.

An expert on military personnel policy says that middle class parents, including those who are newly middle class, often encourage their kids to go to college before selecting a career, which hurts recruiting for enlisted personnel. “Changing the mind of parents is the really tough part, particularly if these are parents who worked really hard for their children to go to college,” said Kate Kuzminski from the Center for a New American Security. She noted that recruiting ads increasingly target the parents of potential recruits. “That’s where they’re trying to win the hearts and minds.”


Paul Rieckhoff: Military community ‘can be a source of strength’ as ‘tragedy’ becomes America’s ‘new normal’
Overall confidence in U.S. government institutions is also decreasing, and that has hit the U.S. military as well. In 2021 the annual Reagan National Defense Survey, conducted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, found that just 45% of Americans had a great deal of trust and confidence in the military, down 25 points since 2018.

The trend will most likely continue as the overall military shrinks and familiarity with service keeps dropping, say the officials. In 2021, an Army study found that 75% of Americans ages 16-28 knew little to nothing about the Army.

“This recruiting crisis is like a slow-moving wave coming at us,” said one senior defense official involved in recruiting and personnel issues. “As the military has gotten smaller and the public have gotten less and less familiar with those in uniform, it has grown. And Covid accelerated it.”

A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment.

This year’s numbers so far

The Army has met about 40% of its enlisted recruiting mission for FY22, with just over three months left in the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. The final quarter — the summer — is typically when the services recruit the most candidates following high school graduation.

Space Force will also likely make its goal, according to U.S. military officials, but as the newest branch of the military it only looks to recruit about 500 Guardians this fiscal year.

IMO the reasons why

1. The US gov doesn’t take care of vets

2. No one wants to die for neoliberalism like f*ghting for Ukraine or going to the Middle
East

3. Main people who joined the military were usually people from small rural towns but the Military wants to go all in on the woke LGBT movement a group of people who won’t join

4. Rural citizens feel hated by this current administration and a president that’s hostile to their beliefs so have no interest in f*ghting for him.

Keep on this trend they are going to start having mandatory services. Can’t openly hate the only group of people who still believed in the American dream and were willing to die for this country. Just to get the soft kids who hate this country and will never serve or like anything you do.

Interesting

Wanna hear what people have to say on this

DRAFT them motherfu*kers!

starting the A-1 selection with Barron Trump

then let MAGA Americans watch as his dad tries to use a "bone spurs" excuse for his son to escape out of his constitutional obligations

Booda Sack said IMO the reasons why 1. The US gov doesn’t take care of vets 2. No one wants to die for neoliberalism like f*ghting for Ukraine or going to the Middle East 3. Main people who joined the military were usually people from small rural towns but the Military wants to go all in on the woke LGBT movement a group of people who won’t join 4. Rural citizens feel hated by this current administration and a president that’s hostile to their beliefs so have no interest in f*ghting for him. Keep on this trend they are going to start having mandatory services. Can’t openly hate the only group of people who still believed in the American dream and were willing to die for this country. Just to get the soft kids who hate this country and will never serve or like anything you do.

make sense though.

I watch a military video training "soldiers' on pronouns.
pronouns.
yes, prounous before war.

18 to 30 year olds that are not in school or is not working 20 hours minimum or actively looking for work might as well go get paid and go to school for free after

I was an army recruiter from 2008 to 2010. Back then, we were still in Iraq and Afghanistan simultaneously. Despite that, it wasn't hard finding people interested in enlisting because of the Great Recession. However, finding qualified people was the toughest battle. I recruited in Cincinnati. Since I was black, they a*signed me to the black areas: Bond Hill, Madisonville, Avondale, Over the Rhine (back then), etc. If I did get someone interested who had a clean record, was in shape, and finished high school, chances are he couldn't pass the ASVAB. If everyone I tried to enlist could pass the ASVAB, I likely would have broken some recruiting records or something. Like I said, getting people interested in the military was the easy part.

Man I had some of the best times in my life in the Army. I tell any youngn that doesn't have a clue on what to do in life to join the service. Stay the fu*k away from marines though. Preferably the AF. The downside is the threat of war but if you in the AF or Navy, you aint seeing combat.

sh*t goes in cycles. Every few years, "the military is cutting down. One fyck up and you're putting here!!!"

Next year, "WE NEED RECRUITS!!! RETENTION NUMBERS ARE DOWN!!!! Tattoos on your neck and hands? Felonies? We got a waiver for ya!"



sh*t pay

sh*t leadership

Poor treatment of veterans

Locked into a contract

Fear of s*xual a*sault or even death

Generation of kids who have literally lived their entire lives during a time of war and even veterans and current servicemembers thought we should bounced from the middle east years ago

Activation of the national guard during times of protest likely ain't helping

A lot of servicemembers don't even want their own kids joining up, especially the army. They know how motherfu*kers are on this side of the fence

This generation doesn't like being told what to do, especially when they're constantly being let down by Gen X and Boomers. Independence is a greater desire now more than ever

Black, brown and female pandering about to go into overdrive now

Let in more Immigrants plus lower the bar further I guess lol

Bravo Golf said I was an army recruiter from 2008 to 2010. Back then, we were still in Iraq and Afghanistan simultaneously. Despite that, it wasn't hard finding people interested in enlisting because of the Great Recession. However, finding qualified people was the toughest battle. I recruited in Cincinnati. Since I was black, they a*signed me to the black areas: Bond Hill, Madisonville, Avondale, Over the Rhine (back then), etc. If I did get someone interested who had a clean record, was in shape, and finished high school, chances are he couldn't pass the ASVAB. If everyone I tried to enlist could pass the ASVAB, I likely would have broken some recruiting records or something. Like I said, getting people interested in the military was the easy part.

Asvab was hard as fu*k

Nothing wrong with joining. Tons of upside to be honest.

Booda Sack said IMO the reasons why 1. The US gov doesn’t take care of vets 2. No one wants to die for neoliberalism like f*ghting for Ukraine or going to the Middle East 3. Main people who joined the military were usually people from small rural towns but the Military wants to go all in on the woke LGBT movement a group of people who won’t join 4. Rural citizens feel hated by this current administration and a president that’s hostile to their beliefs so have no interest in f*ghting for him. Keep on this trend they are going to start having mandatory services. Can’t openly hate the only group of people who still believed in the American dream and were willing to die for this country. Just to get the soft kids who hate this country and will never serve or like anything you do.

Plenty of people from the city and the suburbs join the service. That farm boy from Idaho thing is largely a stereotype. Those rural folks just seem to be the most vocal.

I've met tons of people from the city, the suburbs, the islands, overseas in the military. Your just as likely to meet someone from Houston, LA or DC as you are someone from Boise. Maybe even moreso at times.

People aren't complaining about the LGBT thing as much as you may think.

Bravo Golf said I was an army recruiter from 2008 to 2010. Back then, we were still in Iraq and Afghanistan simultaneously. Despite that, it wasn't hard finding people interested in enlisting because of the Great Recession. However, finding qualified people was the toughest battle. I recruited in Cincinnati. Since I was black, they a*signed me to the black areas: Bond Hill, Madisonville, Avondale, Over the Rhine (back then), etc. If I did get someone interested who had a clean record, was in shape, and finished high school, chances are he couldn't pass the ASVAB. If everyone I tried to enlist could pass the ASVAB, I likely would have broken some recruiting records or something. Like I said, getting people interested in the military was the easy part.

You tell them kids to get an ASVAB study guide?

I was talking to a recruiter a couple days ago and he was telling me the same thing about everyone being out of shape. Told me the army is about to start a sort of fat camp for delayed entry soldiers

Bravo Golf said I was an army recruiter from 2008 to 2010. Back then, we were still in Iraq and Afghanistan simultaneously. Despite that, it wasn't hard finding people interested in enlisting because of the Great Recession. However, finding qualified people was the toughest battle. I recruited in Cincinnati. Since I was black, they a*signed me to the black areas: Bond Hill, Madisonville, Avondale, Over the Rhine (back then), etc. If I did get someone interested who had a clean record, was in shape, and finished high school, chances are he couldn't pass the ASVAB. If everyone I tried to enlist could pass the ASVAB, I likely would have broken some recruiting records or something. Like I said, getting people interested in the military was the easy part.

Why is that, isn't the ASVAB an accumulation of subjects that people learn in school?

Its said Let in more Immigrants plus lower the bar further I guess lol

I've read somewhere a long time ago, that the NAVY recruits Filipinos in Manila.

Dehone said You tell them kids to get an ASVAB study guide? I was talking to a recruiter a couple days ago and he was telling me the same thing about everyone being out of shape. Told me the army is about to start a sort of fat camp for delayed entry soldiers

Yeah, I would put them on to some study guides. Most weren't that serious, though. I only had one who actually came back some time later, took it again, and passed.

The Army is the largest branch, so they are usually the ones who come up with different initiatives to get recruits since they have the highest recruiting quota.

When I was recruiting, they had this program where you could get your GED through them. I enlisted a guy under the program. The caveat is that you had to score at least a 50 to qualify. He was a smart dude, though--just never finished high school for whatever reason. He was almost 40 at the time, too.

Osman Bey said Why is that, isn't the ASVAB an accumulation of subjects that people learn in school?

It is. And it's written on an 8th grade level, too.

I had high school seniors and college graduates who couldn't pass the test. That experience inspired me to become a teacher when I got out. Now, I'm about to become an a*sistant principal. I just got an offer from a school today.

Because of the vax mandates obviously

because all the new gens are f*g**ts. they are soft as fu*k half of them cant pass basic and they are weak

Salute to our troops but:

view video

With a grandad that died from agent orange and other relatives that are shell shocked.

Jonny2soxs said Asvab was hard as fu*k

The ASVAB isn't hard. It's just that schools are lacking. I took the ASVAB at 16 as a way of getting out of class. I didn't even have an interest in enlisting at the time. On my 17th birthday, a recruiter calls me, talking about he saw my scores, which were decent. I had a 68 back then; I could easily get a 99 today, which is the highest score you can get. The test is written at an 8th grade level. You only need a 31 to get into the Army, the lowest of all the branches.

Booda Sack said IMO the reasons why 1. The US gov doesn’t take care of vets 2. No one wants to die for neoliberalism like f*ghting for Ukraine or going to the Middle East 3. Main people who joined the military were usually people from small rural towns but the Military wants to go all in on the woke LGBT movement a group of people who won’t join 4. Rural citizens feel hated by this current administration and a president that’s hostile to their beliefs so have no interest in f*ghting for him. Keep on this trend they are going to start having mandatory services. Can’t openly hate the only group of people who still believed in the American dream and were willing to die for this country. Just to get the soft kids who hate this country and will never serve or like anything you do.

Some of the most patriotic people are also non-vax. Don't forget that

Bro, all these companies are so desperate to replace humans with robots. How come they can’t do the same for the military? That’s an occupation that makes most sense for human replacement. No one’s trying to sit here and f*ght wars for no reason anymore, it’s dumb

i hope this has something to do with drugs keeping everyone unproductive