In the news:
Dec 27, 2023 KATU
Fact Check Team: Military struggles to meet recruitment targets in 2023
“Pentagon surveys show that 77% of 17 to 24-year-olds are disqualified from service due to factors such as mental or physical health conditions, drug abuse, or being overweight. Most of that age group (44%) are disqualified for multiple reasons.”
Many articles on the recruiting crisis blame overweight young people, young people on drugs, etc.
Hey four-star officers, high level DOD civilians, policy think tanks and newspeople everywhere:
Thousands of young, intelligent and athletic Americans participate in college athletics each year. Certainly, they would qualify to enlist. No photos of them for your public recruiting promotions and events?
“The military’s reduced size and presence in fewer states and cities around the country contribute to a disconnect, as many individuals lack personal connections to enlisted personnel, reducing the inclination to serve.”
“As the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force grapple with unmet recruiting goals for 2023, a Gallup Poll conducted between June 1 and 22 of this year reveals a notable decline in Americans’ confidence in the military.”
Four-star officers and high level DOD civilians built careers made of undeclared/unwon wars. Now they must mastermind ways to recruit a new generation:
Jan 5, 2023 Yahoo! News
Army Opens New Warrant Officer Recruiting Roles as It Struggles to Fill the Ranks
Recruiting Crisis/Reality Check
Thousands of American families have had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. National Guard too.
US Army
WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up:
US Navy
Vice Adm. Cheeseman says:
If we can just get the veterans, parents and grandparents of the USA to recommend an enlistment to the young family members in their life, things will be looking up. Trouble is, maybe those family members expect more from a commitment to enlist than decades of undeclared/unwon wars. The press, four-star officers, and elected officials will avoid owning up to this.
The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Four-star officers, high level DOD civilians, policy think tanks and the press will avoid being honest about how DOD has been used over the past 30 years. They tend to avoid discussing a track record that is not attractive to the parents, grandparents, young people and veterans of America.
Sorry, no time for the press to ask if decades of undeclared/unwon wars fail to stimulate an urge to enlist:
Video above: Comments are turned off.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the Pentagon specializes in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
President Biden says different:
It’s all about freedom folks.
Biden honors Americans who ‘stood on the front lines of freedom’ in Veterans Day remarks
CNN Nov 11, 2023
Sorry, no newspeople available to ask:
Mr President,
How would American freedoms today be any different if US troops were never sent to Iraq?
Some Americans may be asking:
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
Has dressing women to look like men had any positive or negative impact on recruiting?
Uncle Sam is having a hell of a time finding people to sign up for the US Armed Forces. Pretending that decades of undeclared/unwon wars are linked in any way with American freedoms is the kind of dishonesty that will snuff out the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.
Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
Related:
The people of Alaska need services in the Middle East
Recruiting Crisis – A Million Meals for Military Families In Need
Late 2023 US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays
Stabilizing the Region – Since Desert Shield
The people of Alaska need services in the Middle East
A Draft? – DOD Brand Has Been Wrecked
How does Uncle Sam plan to attract young people to sign up in the years ahead?
Hostile Forces in Distant Lands
The country struggles with:
Photo-
Something from the last century