Lots of headlines recently recognized the obvious causes of recruitment shortfalls.
Recruitment efforts within the U.S. military are encountering major problems this year, with several branches struggling to meet their enlistment targets by as much as 25%. This recruiting problem stems from multiple factors, including concerns over obesity, a shift in patriotism among Gen Z, and restrictive policies towards candidates who have previously undergone therapy.
What sparked this post was Albert Mahler’s Morning Briefing, summarizing an article on the recruitment shortfall with eligible Gen Z’s that only 2% of eligible Gen Z white Democrats sign up, which is 1/8th of the percentage of eligible Gen Z white Republicans.
The only service meeting their quotas is the Marine Corps, which has rejected the woke Marketing Campaign that the Army embraced in 2020 or so. (Hmm, who was just elected president back then?)
The trail of tears from connecting these dots was sad about the “yutes” of America – out of shape and not patriotic. Now, add their desires for easy money without working, and I see America in a world of hurt in today’s chaos.
BTW I would add some attitudinal shifts with respect for authority and an old-fashioned work ethic.
Here are two links. The first one has lots of data.
Article analyzing recruitment crisis eight months ago.
DOD Release of the numbers for fiscal year 2022.