Their take:
US military’s greatest challenge is here at home: How to solve the recruitment crisis
By John Ketcham
May 26, 2025
“The hard truth is that, as a nation, our standards have slipped. We’re just not as healthy, sharp or patriotic as we used to be.”
“Only 23% of American youths today can meet enlistment requirements without a waiver. High obesity rates and worse mental health have made more young people unfit to serve.”
“Small wonder, then, that few are willing to serve — and that many of those with the desire lack the fitness and mental acuity necessary to succeed.”
Our take:
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
Some will say obese teens and young adults are to blame for the big recruiting crisis. Thousands of young, intelligent and athletic Americans participate in college athletics each year. Certainly, they would qualify to enlist- no rehab/prep program required.
Why are these people not showing up at the recruiting office?
Any questions from newspeople?
Thousands of American families have now had a loved one who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Various family generations speak with each other.
Will they encourage new enlistments?
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, the Pentagon seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. Understandable why young people & their parents & grandparents would take a dim view on all this. Continuing on this path will wear down the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.
Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
In past decades, people could do time in uniform, then return to the US with a feeling that they were living in the best country on the planet.
Standards have deteriorated. Today, the troops return to an ongoing breakdown of society.
Stop With The Lies About Freedom
Simple question:
Going back to the 1991 Operation Desert Storm
How would American rights and freedoms and the Constitution be any different today if US troops were never sent to Iraq?
Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in these areas.
Both major parties are OK with federal prohibition of alcohol and tobacco for adults age 18-20.
No such thing the day I graduated from high school.
That was before decades of military operations for your freedoms.
Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.
Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
Just Be Honest
Elected officials and high level DOD civilians speak of the US Armed Forces as if they function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
The press plays along by not asking questions.
The post 911 era has been a time to tell the American people that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American freedoms. This urban legend has run its course. People have seen enough now to know this is no more than a marketing strategy. Uniparty newspeople play along by not asking questions:
The idea that the US Armed Forces are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms is repeated many times over.
The reality is that American freedoms may come and go and appear to be completely unrelated to military operations/US Troops in distant lands, or the Sound of Freedom over Coupeville.
May 28, 2020 WMAR
Salisbury Mayor deploying to Africa with Maryland National Guard
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
December 21st 2019 KOMO News
Legal age to buy cigarettes, vapes raised to 21 nationwide
“Signed into law by President Donald Trump Friday as part of the new $1.4 trillion spending bill, a new measure prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21.”
Possibly of interest:
1980s Veterans – WTF Happened?
Most And Least Meaningful Federal Holidays
The people of Alaska need services in the Middle East
Operating A Camera In A Public Place
Respected Views Re: What Is Going On
Photo-
A symbol of newspeople who stopped asking questions about 35 years ago.
Symbol of a culture that struggles with honesty.