March 13, 2023 Military Times @MilitaryTimes
White House budget calls for more troops & services hope to add about 12,000 but battling high employment, lower public interest in joining
From comments:
“Time for a draft…and time to include women.”
Our take:
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
It is understandable that young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.
Before making any plans to start up a draft, let’s ask if newspeople can do something totally different. Have newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
Have newspeople find out:
Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?
This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals Re: lessons learned on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.
Back during the Cold War era of the 1980s, the US Armed Forces seemed to be in good shape. Today, DOD struggles with recruiting difficulties. I have my own attitudes about all this.
May 13, 2022 Military.com
Military Throwing Cash at Recruiting Crisis as Troops Head for the Exits
“Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee personnel panel, says the military is on the cusp of a recruiting crisis.”
Questions we’d love to see newspeople ask:
Senator Tillis,
Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?
More here:
2022 – Armed Forces Recruiting Culture
Potential applicants on the way to comply with the next draft:
Jan 13, 2023 Military.com
Brawls, Disorder Mar National Guard Boot Camp for Teens
“A massive brawl broke out on a parade ground at Fort Gordon in Augusta one afternoon last fall, when about 70 teenage recruits of the Georgia National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy slugged it out. Some used homemade weapons, including metal shanks, crudely sharpened toothbrushes and tube socks filled with metal padlocks.”
More here:
Hey Moms and Dads – Ask A Recruiter
Last time there was a draft that involved an undeclared war, things did not go well.
RealClearDefense – We Need a Peace Time Draft
From comments:
“During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq the services met their quotas, and that was with people dying and coming home missing limbs. What has changed? Young people see what a failure those wars were. Why fight for a govt that views them as pawns for their political whims and cuts out when all the Generals have been promoted and the companies made billions. Add in the cultural politicization of the military (changing base names and pronouns to name a few) and the pool of eligible people (which is still large) see the military not as honorable service but something to be avoided. Young people see a made up war in Ukraine coming soon as the administration keeps poking the Russians. The left has spent decades demonizing military service, now it is ok? People are smarter than that. A draft is way to avoid fixing the decline in our military and the politicization of its mission/people. Stop the cultural attack on the military ethos, hold accountable someone besides a Marine Major for the failure of the Iran/Iraq wars and stop promoting a war with Russia so Raytheon and Lockeed can make more money. You would see people join. I am a Naval Academy Graduate and served my country for 20 years in various jobs. I would sooner my sons work at a gas station than join today’s military.”
What we were thinking in 2012:
Related:
Excuses for US Military Recruiting Crisis
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over
America Deserves A Military Recruiting Crisis
Roaring Sports Fans – Military Jet Flyover
GWOT/Super Bowl Security Update 2023
How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?
Below, are some random thoughts and questions newspeople will not ask. Our questions appear in bold type.
Possibly of interest:
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
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About this time of year – Skagit Valley