20231213 MLP Hearing: Recruiting Shortfalls and Growing Mistrust: Perceptions of the US Military

[@tgmaquatics]

Video starts at 21:24

[@robertogura9890]

And to point it out D.E.I. is something most americans do not want to DIE for.

[@wreeek]

In the waiver process thanks to a one-time issue years ago popping up on Genesis, despite being clear while Active Duty and clear since. You need better MEPS personnel.

[@ronskeeters4319]

When you have an administration who abandons their people in afghanistan, Stares at their watch while meeting the families, cares more about DEI than killing the enemy, NO amount of recruting is going to help.

[@ThomasGoering]

Yes, we have had hard times in the past. Recruiting is cyclical. When things are going great, they cut manpower and funding, and then when things are not so great, they pump manpower and funding back in. COVID had to have had an impact, but only because the relationships and face time with schools, students and the general population came to a crashing halt. With things back to relative normalcy, I assume G-Jet miles have exploded while getting back into the market. Door knocking is always fun. During the 1980s, the U.S. population was less 100 million of today's population. Most applicants in the mid to late 80s were children of Vietnam era parents -- we were dealing with trust then, too, as you might imagine. heh, it occasionally got hostile. Recruiting had numerous challenges similar to today's issues, yet the services were putting in anywhere from 60 to 100 thousand people a year each. Today, we have less recruiting stations. The high population areas get love, but the small towns don't have the exposure they once had. We used to have over 40 districts and eight regions (areas) -- we are now down to 26 districts (NTAGs) and two regions with a much larger population. Oversight may be an issue. Remember, expect what you inspect.

[@MikeTraufler]

I would advise Ms. Schaefer to stay in her lane (Army) instead of making unfounded comments about pathways to leadership in the Marine Corps. While it is true that many Marines in senior leadership positions (both enlisted and officer) have been in the recruiting force, it is FAR from a requirement. Many in senior leadership positions have never been in a recruiter's office apart from when they themselves were recruited. Additionally, having a dedicated professional recruiting force is a BAD idea. Why? How exactly is a recruiter who has NEVER served in an Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps front line, deployable unit ever going to be able to honestly convey to a potential recruit what life in such units is like? BAD idea. As for my bonafides, I served for more than 22 years in the Marine Corps retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer and spent time as a recruiter (MOS 8411).

[@hoss2800]

I’m not sure my Marine recruiter was interested in honestly portraying day to day military life. There was plenty of focus on the high speed cool stuff. But the majority of my actual time was spent doing things like mopping parking lots in the rain as a punishment for actions of people I never heard of or had any involvement in or falling in to formations of increasing size and standing around doing nothing in the 29 Palms sun for hours before the battalion commander showed up late to address his troops. That is a huge waste of human capital and a strong message that the young Marine is not valued and respected by his leadership. My 3 kids are approaching military age and they are fit, healthy, academically successful and drug and crime free. They are part of the 20% of their peers that require no waivers but I don’t want my kids going into an environment like that and do not make any attempt to foster a willingness to serve in them. Military leadership is just terrible and I make sure my children, neices, nephews and friends know it.

[@tommyj1811]

I'm a white male and I would join again. I'm a conservative in my voting, but am not afraid of DEI, wokeness or anything. I could easily compete in promotions as I did competing against affirmative action hires when I became a police officer. The police force needed a diverse set of officers and it only made my department stronger for it. Don't hate the game, just be the best player in the game and you will succeed.

[@John-i9l2x]

If you are a white male and join the military to protect a country that hates you then you are an idiot.

[@darcylee8497]

You want to solve the problem, take DEI out of the equation, that will increase the numbers. It’s an easy fix

[@tommyj1811]

Did you even listen to the hearing. Most kids aren't even eligible to join because of weight or they can't pass the entrance exam.

[@miterbenisdurty3862]

@@tommyj1811 they said that back during 2010 when I joined. The issue now is young white males see joe Biden and Harris on tv making no sense and weak, they see 2020 was suspicious asf, the see trans and furries in uniform, they see the woke mililtary ads targeting women and minorities instead of the alpha male,they see they would probably fight for Ukraine, they saw how their family in the military was treated during covid and their saying no thanks.

[@azondaxx]

@@tommyj1811 not that that what anyone will say it's military they lying just like politics to win or get people to enlisted. Young and mid age people looking to future in online business, job market opportunities and making money on social media. The military not on there listed making money military was targeted poor family to enlisted that kinda ashamed to be honest

[@skywalkier]

I distrust the people in this committee, especially Gaetz, Mace and Kim, just to name a few.

[@SourBogBubble]

Damnit MR. Kim can i have the IQ points you made me lose back? I am losing points rapidly listening to your statements.

[@armensargsyan6992]

Bla bla bla bla. You think that problem is the advertisement of the benefits not a actual benefits. How many kids and grandkids you have? How many of them have served in military?

[@merlepatterson]

If the situation with the status of DEI national policies don't change and/or continue to proliferate, my recommendation to young males which identify themselves as Caucasian (White) would be to stay as far away from military recruiters as you can possibly get because you will be the last ones chosen for rank advancement, duty assignment or leadership positions 'because' of your race, not 'in spite' of it.

[@tommyj1811]

You have no data to back that up.

[@merlepatterson]

@@tommyj1811 None but my own lying eyes and ears watching mainstream media, government institutions, big business and political speakers for the last decade or so.

[@bio80]

People don't want to wear "americas" uniform because it's like seeing a clowns uniform at the circus 🤡