What is behind the US military’s recruitment crisis? | UpFront

The United States military is facing its greatest recruitment crisis in 50 years.
Military leaders say they are struggling to hit their enlistment targets because most potential recruits simply do not meet the military’s eligibility standards, while data shows that more than half of young people simply do not see a future in the armed forces.
Many attribute this to information about the military’s internal culture being more readily available now, including reports of racism and sexual harassment, and fears of a lack of adequate care and support for veterans, while others argue that the decline in recruitment has more to do with how young people view the military and a shift in personal beliefs when it comes to war.
So what is behind this decline? And are we witnessing a change in Americans’ relationship to their military?
On UpFront, Marc Lamont Hill puts these questions to Monisha Rios, US Army veteran and Truth In Recruitment board member; Kaitlynn Considine, US Marine Corps veteran and founding member of Gamers for Peace; and Richard Brookshire, US Army veteran and co-founder of the Black Veterans Project.
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[@PersonWhoLikesLearning]

As a veteran I’ll share my two cents… quality of life. Suicide has been the leading cause of death for service members since the Korean War. With social media it’s just easier for young people to see how bad it is before they sign a contract. I never understood what it meant to be truly suicidally depressed until I spent a couple years in the army. You will be treated like garbage and your life ruined so a small number of officers can build their OERs and compete for top block.

[@hellooooooooo3956]

thank you so much for you input

[@Spaghetti_policy]

Speak for yourself. I did my whole career as an infantryman in the Army. I loved it. I would join tomorrow if I could. I am treated very well by the VA and am retired at 50. I did more in the first 10 years than most do in their lives.

[@lproth]

@@Spaghetti_policy is that sarcasm I hear 😀

[@jackstone2482]

@@Spaghetti_policy LOL! Dude you are just mentally hilarious! 🤣

[@1lapmagic]

@@Spaghetti_policy A person only capable of doing their whole career as infantry would naturally love that.

[@joshborja8012]

I am an OIF vet, and I told my kids and nephews not to join the military! If our country is in danger of being invaded, then fight for your country. But we are only fighting wars for the power of a few elites!

[@youmakeitreal]

Never made sense to me that the US would be fighting in another country on the other side of the globe, and call it "defence"

[@firstlast8258]

Speak for yourself

[@youmakeitreal]

@@firstlast8258 ?

[@jackcarraway4707]

And you can ID thise elites by their tiny hats and big noses.

[@1017KitchenBoy]

@@firstlast8258he’s speaking facts

[@dickyoong9527]

Because Americans have awakened to the fact that serving in the military is no longer about serving the nation and protecting freedom but rather to enrich the politicians and military industrial complex.

[@petrairene]

And to be sent to questionable military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan etc that leaves many killed and harmed and with no victory or otherwise positive result to show for it. It's Vietnam all over again. Thanks, president Bush. Plus, you end up hurt and then don't even have health insurance? WTF!

[@phoenixhenson3689]

yes

[@phoenixhenson3689]

@Lisa Chambers yes

[@ivanr4300]

It’s always been like this tho All those wars to “liberate” those nations was a farce.

[@lproth]

Your completely wrong, your grandpa was the last member of your family to serve. You know nothing about the military, 5th generation service, my children 6th……do you get the picture…the sacrifices are falling on a smaller and smaller number of families!

[@macrosense]

Most people fit for service are also smart enough to realize our leaders are stupid, corrupt, and incompetent. Therefore if they enlist they will be ordered to do stuff that is stupid, corrupt, dishonest, and counterproductive.

[@jakehenderson4425]

You said it best.

[@macrosense]

I was being too cynical or harsh. The military needs people fit and smart enough to do the jobs they are trained for. But those people also have to not really care about what they might be ordered to do.

[@Cavebabybeserkerrs]

​@@macrosenseMan fkkk yall

[@ursulasmith6402]

What no one seems to realize that the elites regulate and control the whole world. Leaders are puppets and have to do what the elites, want them to do or say. Watch the truth channels.

[@555125kevin]

Not only that, half the soldiers in the military are toxic (1st hand experience).

[@ABDULKHAN-gj6rr]

Young ppl are smart ,they do t want to fight illegal wars for corporations

[@firstlast8258]

Stupid is as stupid does

[@sisigs4820]

Their should be a law that mandates the children of politicians to go and fight the wars that they decide to start. In no time, there will be zero pointless wars happening.

[@ZackFrisbee]

Or J e w s

[@sladetuner8661]

Actually, Unconstitutional wars and since 1950 the UN has declared just about every war by the way

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

​@@sisigs4820 SOOOO fcking close. But no cigar. There should be a law that mandates THE POLITICIANS (and judges and police officers who uphold the politicians' laws) TO GO FIGHT IN WARS.

[@personaldanceparty5518]

I’m a veteran… & I don’t blame young people… also remember you can get discharged if you state you are a conscientious objector…

[@bodhisattva2348]

😲 now that I didn't know

[@anthonyroberts2678]

​@@bodhisattva2348ar 600-43!! Its online

[@lionedheart]

an Honorable Discharge or Dishonorable Discharge?

[@anthonyroberts2678]

@@lionedheart honorable

[@petertiang71]

Dying for useless wars is one reason.... lol

[@phoenixhenson3689]

yes

[@frehyvibe3182]

Yes

[@hellooooooooo3956]

I swear why must people die for the rich

[@aminabinthiqbal9661]

@@hellooooooooo3956 ....and ego

[@jackstone2482]

Absolutely! And never should be consider as enough reason to go into! 👍

[@kylesmith8128]

The reason qualified, intelligent people do not want to join the military is that it has been used for such stupid tasks since Vietnam. When our politicians start pursuing more intelligent priorities, the better recruits will show up.

[@bradchoi662]

Thank you for your ignorance, they all join the special warfare instead, these slots are limited, and few TO required.

[@swamifakkananda4043]

​@@bradchoi662 I just happen 2 agree with the above statement. We do have a right to be ignorant. I understand and acknowledge your cultural AND intellectual superiority.

[@fuadizharuddin4797]

Politicians must try their hand on the battle ground as well.who knows we may dscover new talent n skills on how to run away

[@Wi-Fi-El]

My reason is that the military demands too much and doesn't offer enough. As a civilian I make more money than I would as a new recruit, I have more control over what I do and how I look, I can quit my job whenever i want, I don't have to risk my life, and I don't have to make an oath to anyone or anything

[@swamifakkananda4043]

@@Wi-Fi-El silly me. I thought u just do not like killing!!!!

[@ivanolvera420]

You see homeless vets, everywhere, how you think they going to look at the military Gov

[@jackstone2482]

The question is... How can they ever look at themselves knowing they had murder innocent lives mostly children in other countries. Can he still even look his children in the eye?😳

[@TheBigShoe1911]

​@@jackstone2482why are you even here............

[@LostMidge-pu4qc]

@@jackstone2482 If you are talking about the vets, not ever vet was a combat MOS. Most have not killed children

[@tonycoleman2184]

Lack of support for those who served in the past is probably a factor

[@OrdinaryMan1999-tn4hh]

The Term "Homeless Veteran" is a major reason.

[@cjbolan8059]

@@OrdinaryMan1999-tn4hh That's just for starters.

[@ayomidebusari5881]

I have always wanted to join the US military, but after having substantial knowledge of past, present and future events, I changed my mind immediately.

[@johnlopez2028]

or maybe you jsut pussied out

[@deejay7339]

You're not even American so you wouldn't be able to serve lmao

[@sewerdawgs]

Iraq veterans against the war is all you need to talk to.

[@XG916]

You changed your mind because it was never your purpose to serve and fight.

[@The_Affiliate_Partner]

There are many trusty to a lot of what was told here. I personally reported a sexual assault on an officer. He assaulted one of my Marines and attempted to assault another by trapping her in a supply warehouse. Fortunately she was smart enough to not be alone. That officer was found not guilty but no further service required. He was able to retire. Due to me reporting it and people knowing it, conversations would stop when I walked into a room. I ended up changing my job to get away from the environment. The military culture does not want these reported because it puts a bad label on the service, just like colleges. There is no difference.

[@MiJaHa]

This a classic example of why these situations should be taken out of the system. The system is set up to protect itself.

[@bruceleelee3823]

I had an LT who assaulted me once and was only going to report if it happened a second time...Had to leave that unit behind...smh

[@slickwilly6868]

Why join the military when they pay private contractors six figures to do the same job you do???

[@rongendron8705]

Very good point! Soldiers should be considered Federal Employees & paid accordingly!

[@ursulasmith6402]

Not everyone gets those jobs, only if the candidate is related to the big shots in the company.

[@lproth]

A small percentage of American families has been filling the ranks. My family and my wife’s are two. She and I are children of veterans, are parents of servicemen. I have 7 relatives besides my children serving. The treatment of the services has been horrible, the VA horrible and then Afghanistan was the final straw. 13 deaths and 15 wounded. Those of us in the service know how much of a cluster *%%^ it was. Then the cover up, no direction from higher, no punishment of the command chain?! So my children are thinking about not reenlisting and they are NCOs! I am not encouraging younger family members to follow the military tradition!!! Let them start the draft again and see what happens! The services did this to them selves, or I should say the senior leadership!

[@truckert9729]

Let them start the draft; I'll stand in between them and my boys if they say nope. That's a hill I'll die on and I'll take a few of them with me.

[@sisigs4820]

Exactly, they made their bed now, and they can lay in it. I refuse to fight for this corrupt nation.

[@HappyHermitt]

Democrats have made a circus out if the military and also put targets on straight white males. And they still don't understand why they can't fill their ranks. I'm a veteran from a line of veterans.

[@1017KitchenBoy]

@@truckert9729cap

[@asli9812]

that's karma for you, warmongerers 🥰🥰

[@austinshannon4197]

Yea. I’m a U.S. Army veteran and I agree the early 2000’s war in Middle East were pointless.

[@stanhunt8543]

Not for israel

[@thewatcher4552]

NOT IF YOU WANTED TO KIIIIIILLL SEMPER FI!

[@gloriawilson3241]

You vets were well treated compared to us Vietnam vets, We were spit on and called baby killers..Royce Wilson 11B RVN 1969. We are still proud of our service even thought the war was lost to the communist.

[@MiJaHa]

And the politicians & the media.@@gloriawilson3241

[@surgedouglas6892]

People aren’t stupid anymore like the old days,many of these political wars are dumb and are never going to be won in the first place.

[@AllStarsNoStripes]

My daughter was thinking about joining the military a few years ago and I told her it was stupid and she'd throw her life away. She'd probably get raped in boot camp and lose her life or limbs in a BS war to keep the rich wealthy. If she survived war she'd be messed up with PTSD for the rest of her life and possibly missing limbs or homeless. When she decided not to join, I told her that I was proud of her for making the right decision.

[@Not_From_Holland]

Probably r*p*d in bootcamp? How probable is that? I can understand it happens a few times a year but ''probably'' ?

[@Not_From_Holland]

@sambankman-Zelensky I've read a lot of reddit stories, even from women in the military, who say a lot of females go in the military because of the male attention they get. One even said that these are girls who never got attention in high school, so by joining a majority male organization they get all the ''attention'' they've been craving for.

[@MiJaHa]

Oh, so they deserve it?@@Not_From_Holland

[@chickenstrangler3826]

Not what he said at all. ​@@MiJaHa

[@chickenstrangler3826]

You spewed lies to your daughter.

[@happygrandma4ruthP]

My uncle's thought if they served in the military they would receive equally 🤔 They told us do not serve a country that refuses to treat you like a human being 💔

[@st.george8422]

Some excellent points were made about how modern wars have not been ethical or in the interest of Americans. However, I can say with a fair degree of certainly that climate change has absolutely nothing to do with 18 year old males deciding not to join the military.

[@Vefyoutubecensorfutub]

Exactly. This fool brought his CNN nonsense to Al Jazeera

[@TerrapinTales]

Exactly; the lady sounded okay until she started spouting 1619 project talking points

[@illliiiiillliii6265]

​@@TerrapinTaleswell she did start of with saying just like the US was build on slavery and opression, the military too is built on those fundamentally evil and unjustified things. With a broad statement like that thats so full of rhetorical skew, I knew there was gonna be a whole lot of things she says that might not necasserily be true but she wishes to be true. Not saying she didnt say a lot of good points, because she did.

[@denniscolvin5106]

Young people need to understand that military recruiters lie to you to get you to sign up. You need to realize that the military does not provide you with job training that's in demand in the civilian job market. The military just trains you to do what the military wants you to do. Forget about benefits they promise you because once you leave the miliitary they make it almost impossile for you to retain those benefits. Become disabled in the military and they just discharge you to get rid of you and then you have to bear a lifetime of struggling to get your medical care and benefits.

[@houjay6288]

Americans realise it's not their country anymore

[@carlomikhailreid4365]

People are not stupid

[@firstlast8258]

Stupid is as stupid does

[@sewerdawgs]

It's 2023 we have the internet. All the war crimes are online😂 How are ppl still joining??

[@ianwatson3315]

How many Americans enlisted in the Vietnam war and regretted it🤦‍♂️

[@DemetrioXavier69]

*Drafted*

[@redclayscholar620]

​@@DemetrioXavier69 around 25% of American troops were drafted during the Vietnam War. 75% were willing volunteers joining out of patriotic duty, family tradition, and personal glory.

[@ianwatson3315]

@@redclayscholar620 having no idea what they were heading into as the government were hiding it!

[@karlnordinger5968]

Nonsense , if your selective service rating was A - 1 in the 1960's you knew Vietnam was in your future . I was A - 1 but got lucky and enlisted in the USCG Feb/'65 before the war really got going , turned out to be the best thing I ever did in my life . VA treats me fairly and I am very grateful for the education , health , and comp benefits I receive . My dad served ( WW 2 ) and I have a warm feeling in my heart for any veteran no matter what misfortune life has dealt out .@@redclayscholar620

[@MasterChief_YoHo]

We are not willing to put our lives on line for these corporations and politicians agendas, we've seen how you treated our veterans. We have realized we would not be fighting for America only the top 1%.

[@rongendron8705]

When politician's adult children are 'drafted" first, in any war, let's see how many new conflicts, the U.S. gets into?

[@S3R3NTY]

I'm glad Americans are waking up to the corrupt bullshit and unnecessary spendature in our defense budget. America needs to fix itself.

[@DeadInterior]

People don't like having a bad back and ringing in their ears at age 30

[@Wi-Fi-El]

I got a 94 on the ASVAB, but I never one considered joining the military. My family has served since before the American revolution, and I'm the only eldest son since 1645 that didn't join a military (my family used to be French and British and served there before the revolution). My main reason for not joining was because anything the military can offer me, civilian jobs can offer with less demands. As a civilian, I choose when I wake up, I choose what I wear, I choose what I eat, what job I do, where I go, when I do things, I don't have to fight anyone, I don't have to obey anyone except for police, I can get tattoos and piercings anywhere I want, and I make more money than a private in the army. I also don't want to close my business, considering it would be impossible to run it while in the military

[@1lapmagic]

to be fair you also look like a guy who voraciously devours soy products

[@johnnyfive9815]

So you are a coward ...that's cool, but you could have just written that. The military isn't about you; it's about service to the country. You have dishonored your family.

[@zoy13]

True True

[@thewatcher4552]

No you're just a wimp😂

[@godzab]

I wish I was smart like you before I joined the military. You hit all the points and are 100% correct in your statements.

[@jamesharrigan7063]

Why would you join an organization that you can’t quit if you get mistreated, you’re locked in for years if you have a jerk boss.

[@surgedouglas6892]

Facts

[@papitordz87]

That’s why I never join , I have a hard time turning a blind eye to what is wrong it eats me alive when I see WRONG.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

3:47 "told not to question" = COMPLETELY contradicts all this belief that conservatives have that the USA was "founded on revolution" and "distrust of government"

[@bodhisattva2348]

Veteran here, DO NOT JOIN ANY BRANCH OF THE MILITARY. you'll thank me later, now go forth my younglings & be happy... away from the military ❤

[@miatamayo8262]

❤

[@sewerdawgs]

Thank you for being honest! We need more ppl like u in this world

[@ianking9485]

The world would stop getting bullied and Cuba would become prosperous and happy and sweet.

[@kylesmith8128]

Read a book.

[@deidradahl2802]

Just like Vietnam

[@felix4321ful]

I look forward to that day

[@unc1221]

@@kylesmith8128explain

[@greghammett5739]

I served 13 years then was forced out with downsizing. There IS NO RETIREMENT EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN SPECIAL PEOPLE. THIS IS THE WORST MISTAKE YOU CAN MAKE!

[@colincampbell4261]

Beause young people realize that war can kill or maim you.

[@TheOneSoldierOfFortune]

Because people are sick of being told lies as an excuse for war.

[@larrylandwehr7694]

The only personel that benefit from military service are officers, ALL OTHERS, get treated like garbage and ignored by the V.A.

[@naazrahhusain1771]

I'm so happy for Marc Lamont Hill...didn't know he was on Al Jazeera

[@user-wf8ol5hv6k]

Many things. 1 you are used in the military. 2 you are fighting for the military industrial complex. 3 you are not fighting for your own freedom you are fighting for someone else's freedom.

[@jink1768]

The military is disqualifying most potential candidates for preexisting medical condition and most recruiters can’t be bothered to do the extra work for a waiver. This includes those who developed issues and were discharges from service after their contract expired. And you wonder why you’re struggling to keep recruits.

[@MK_ULTRA420]

Uhh.....good?

[@mattjohnson1333]

We should disqualify candidates for pre-existing medical conditions. There is a reason for all of that makes absolute sense to do so. Competence is our watchword in military is not a social support mechanism. Our mission is to fight and win..

[@jink1768]

@@mattjohnson1333that is an extreme generalization of the issue. I’m saying there are many recruits that still are capable of serving that have been filtered out by an outdated view towards medical record. One I may add that the DoD even recently admitted needed to be reworked. People should be disqualified if they have any issues that prevent them to being capable of serving. Simply having any pre-existing medical condition doesn’t prevent people from being capable to serve. Many of these conditions are extremely common in the military itself. If you fire every person from the military for having things like a childhood asthma, adhd, depression surgery history among other things there would be no military. There is a reason why recruiters now more than ever encourage recruits to lie because Mep will disqualify people for even the smallest issue. As for fighting and winning yeah sure because we definitely haven’t been having repeated military disaster in the past decade. The military’s existing standard that prevent potential candidate surely worked wonders in our military failure especially now we can’t even field enough soldiers to station most of our existing base. We aren’t winning by any means but yeah sure blame it on the people you don’t allow to join. Allowing people who can’t even pass high school or criminals is fine but god forbid they ever took medication for something.

[@Dr_MKUltra]

Terrible salaries might have something to do with it. Seriously have you seen the starting salaries, it's better to work at Chucky cheese.

[@FadeHook23]

You could be 16 years old earning more flipping burgers at McDonald’s. And this is a literal statement, not even to undermine working at a fast food establishment, but who wants to sign up for 4 years to max out at $30K per year to work 50-60 hour work weeks in the military?

[@ianwatson3315]

In the wars in the Middle East some 50 Australian veterans were killed ..since then over 500 have committed suicide.

[@grantyboy0311]

Saying that rape is a sanctioned weapon of war is absolutely absurd. She was asked to explain what she meant by that and she failed. Gaslighting

[@NaveMafe]

Send the cops who seem be bred for violence.

[@FadeHook23]

The violence bred cops came from the military. Why do you think they’re so used to corruption, it all stems from within.

[@felix4321ful]

Those cowards only shoot at people they know won't shoot back. Have you forgotten how they reacted when Micah Xavier Johnson gave them a taste of their own medicine??

[@NaveMafe]

@@felix4321ful that's exactly why they should be sent.

[@jetsetradio7715]

@@felix4321ful Uvalde is a more shameful example letting all those kids die like that.

[@felix4321ful]

@@jetsetradio7715 Uvalde? Yeah, I saw the parents begging the cops to go in and save their kids. Begging and pleading!! When some parents realized the cops were too scared to do anything, they tried to go and rescue their children only for the cops to assault them. That really made my blood boil. Imagine what it would feel like hearing your son or daughter screaming in terror and some coward with a badge & a gun is too scared to protect & serve but he also won't allow you to do his job for him.

[@havencat9337]

this is the only way we can have peace in the world...happy to see this!

[@lproth]

Weakness brings more war, if you look weak and there is no risk. I may just kick your head it in. Don’t ever fill you are safe. Men with guns stops other men with guns!

[@bearmerica6668]

And we shouldn't assist in Ukraine right?

[@coin9007]

Yes 100% True the weak the US Military and its people the peace the world will have.

[@ZeeshanAnsari-hy5zg]

​@@bearmerica6668 nope...

[@deejay7339]

@user-gr3jc2sj1i putin only wished people wouldn't defend Ukraine. Keep dreaming russki

[@davidcald5975]

who in the right mind wants to join the military .after seen the disaster of the last wars and how they treat ex Army poeple 🙄 plus next war will be push button stuff not poeple on the ground 😓

[@ianwatson3315]

You mean invasions don’t you?

[@gz-blaze1108]

I am joining after high school

[@gabrielscarlat9856]

The army is created for two purposes, defense or occupation. When the army is of occupation, it is created from mercenaries. US army what kind of army is it?

[@ayomidebusari5881]

Trust me you don't want to know

[@TomAF86]

It doesn't make sense in this day and age to join, you have issues with; toxic leadership, people in the Navy not getting their DD214's in a timely manner, loss and/or reduction of benefits, a high chance of getting a musculoskeletal injuries, long working hours... There will always be people that join that have no future prospects and have a dire situation though obviously.

[@noona514]

We need to talk about the sexual violence in the military...it's only women who are brave enough to say what happened. If it's happening to men too they're awfully quiet.

[@cjbolan8059]

@noona514 Most women don't report. They know the consequences for reporting. The military does not have their back. Men are victims of sexual violence too, but not nearly at the rate that women are. It all sucks.

[@emilionazario5238]

You pay a cop in NJ starting at 55,000.00 a year with full benefits, including vacations, sick days and COMP time. As a police officer you can max out 100,000.00 a year in a period of 10 years or less. If you move up in rank you get more money, while a soldier basic pay don’t even get to that amount. Pay them more money and better benefits and you will get more people enlisting. Start paying retirement for the National Guard after 20 years with no waiting period. If politicians are willing to fund other armies overseas, then give our soldiers more money. You can serve your nation as a plumber and get paid more money than a soldier. Pay up GOV, pay up.

[@ursulasmith6402]

The politicians are puppets and owned by the elites. Please listen to .John Todd testimonies.

[@chriswegman738]

Considering I just cut ties with my old military affiliates this morning over a fight about incompetent chain of command. (That was 20 years ago) Nobody wants to fight for this nonsense and I don't blame them. ESPECIALLY after the events of the last 3-4 years.

[@anthonyroberts2678]

Same here!! I stopped talking to people I served with!! Blindly loyal to a corrupt system that oppressed them worse than you and me. COGNITIVE DISSONANT CULTISTS! US ARMY 1999-2008

[@jolantabennan6892]

In such case,there is one owerwhelming solution,every soldier should fight only when having a shoulder of a trustworthy psychotherapist around

[@LargeFather69]

@Lisa Chambers Psychotherapy isn’t useless, it’s inaccessible. Even still, having access to a therapist will not change the fact they’re committing warcrimes on the field. Incidents are one thing to correct, but intentional, acknowledged violence? That’ll scar anyone

[@firstlast8258]

Trust no one

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

But someone who retaliates against a whistleblower is themselves a whistleblower (on the wrong side, but still a disruptor) so why aren't those who speak out against whistleblowers not kicked out?

[@DavealYT]

As a gen z id say its a mixture of things. Eligibility (criminal backgrounds{gen z tends to get in trouble alot} and other strict eligibilities and our knowledge is another matter like you all said, and knowing that the cons of wars far out weigh the benefits we may or may not receive. So thus its not worth it in the end.

[@d-nihilus4422]

I have a quote from Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire that I'd like to leave here: In the various states of society, armies are recruited from very different motives. Barbarians are urged by the love of war; the citizens of a free republic may be prompted by a principle of duty; the subjects, or at least the nobles, of a monarchy, are animated by a sentiment of honor; but the timid and luxurious inhabitants of a declining empire must be allured into the service by the hopes of profit, or compelled by the dread of punishment.

[@syedabdul-rahman9544]

Because people have realized they're signing up to be cannon fodder

[@afghanistanafghan144]

if its weakens american imperialism hegemony than this is good for the world

[@Native_soul321]

Taliban is no different to Hitler regime

[@afghanistanafghan144]

@@Native_soul321 ok cowboy

[@vivianaugusta3000]

True.

[@firstlast8258]

@@vivianaugusta3000 not my truth

[@Watcherw1]

Who wants to be screamed at for weeks/months on end?

[@miriamwells35]

Geez… why don’t people want to sign up to die in endless wars to avenge crimes they likely did not commit and whose ancestors were likely victims of? Scratches head.

[@sewerdawgs]

I don't understand how ppl are STILL joining. After all the info n war crimes. Crazy

[@exitthesaturnmatrix9564]

Because no one wants to drink the koolaid and I don't blame them.

[@KangoV]

Just look at the kind of adverts they are putting out. I'd be embrassed to apply.

[@KayAteChef]

It's all short-term trends. The military has sucked as a career for thousands of years. But during economic downturns, the stable career is attractive again. We saw that after the GFC. Did everyone forget after Vietnam that it's not all beer and skittles? No... it is largely economics.

[@firstlast8258]

Speak for yourself

[@borednurse907]

Ya no. Have you not seen how things have changed regarding retirement benefits? I’m a healthcare provider and the military has jack for retirement compared to what I’ve built up in just 5 years of being out of the military. The armed forces as a career is a joke.

[@KayAteChef]

@@borednurse907 I agree with you, that it is a poor place to finish. But it is an excellent place to start if you think you might need the help getting started. I was able to get a good job when I left and my retirement is looking better after 10 years as a civilian. When I joined I was excited about the marketable skills I was acquiring, but as the GFC hit, I noticed that people with bad debt were joining to make a fresh start. The military is a way people can improve their resume and live a spartan lifestyle while they fix their finances. So it is good for recruiting. And then when they are ready to do something else, they can. Like we did.

[@jamesthompson7446]

I had ppl who fought in Korean War and Vietnam white. N black told me it’s not worth it

[@100musicplaylists3]

Its good pay, the average life expectancy of a front line infantry soldier in modern war is now at least 0.0034 seconds once over the trench wall and facing satellite microwave area denial weapons and b52 carpet bombers. With a widows pension that means your getting paid at least 100,000 times minimum wage on the battlefield during those productive 0.0034 seconds of life expectency.

[@deidradahl2802]

You nailed it. It's good pay, but it's money a dead man can't spend

[@hubreydavid7864]

True unfortunately the politicians can't even their money to the grave so what's the use of wars.

[@redclayscholar620]

​@@deidradahl2802 it's better than risking getting killed at home for free. 😅

[@aimeyalala7178]

Just recruit all the KZbinrs and ticktockers😂😂😂

[@jawinkhantu9930]

First and foremost the military no longer have a military pension now they have the TSP retirement plan and finally the military no longer award the full GI Bill to help pay for college

[@Kiddebrown4448]

Really?

[@Isaiah-zd3iz]

Nothing you just stated was correct

[@srpleg]

Please don’t spread misinformation. Everything you stated is misinformation.

[@borednurse907]

@@srpleg you obviously have no idea what you’re talking about. They absolutely changed the retirement system, Tuition Assistance, and Gi benefits (specifically for reservists and guardsman). I was in when this all changed. Get it together lady.

[@srpleg]

@@borednurse907 I most definitely have an idea. They’ve changed, yes, but he said these benefits were no longer available. At least for active duty. Coast guard well….I’ll won’t say anything about that.

[@felix4321ful]

With the amount of mass shooters in the US, they shouldn't be have issues with recruitment.

[@johnsullivan4049]

I'm not from America, but I don't think those shooters would make a good soldier. They did the mass shooting because they're cowards. The mass shooters are engaging defenseless unarmed civilians. Of course if the objective of the military is to kill innocent civilians they'd be awesome but other than that, no.

[@ezetram774]

The juice ain’t worth the squeeze

[@joshinya66]

So in exchange for serving, you get lifelong marginalization and medical subjugation for helping defense industry investors make bank ?

[@beezelsub]

The type of people who historically join the military feel the country is going in a direction they don't like. The medical mandate by biden didn't help either.

[@MichelMawon4982]

I'm just so happy to see this man getting to do something he's good at.

[@jascam1]

Will the USA conscript all those who cried for inclusivity or will it still punish only the ambled bodied young men for its war machinery. The courts are going to overflow with inequality litigations.

[@MrTask4ce]

It seems that a lot of people can not connect the dots between geo-politics, geo-economics, diplomacy, military deterrence, and security among other things, with the standards of living, opportunities, and freedoms that we take for granted. That's not to say everything the government does is justified and not corrupt, but much of it is actually very intelligent, calculated, and multi--dimensional. It's a complex web of causations and effects that most people (including myself) can not wrap their head around. The issue is lack of transparency and the sub-standard education of the average american. So many ideas, beliefs, and opinions born out of ignorance.

[@TerrapinTales]

Well if the US didn’t ship all its manufacturing out of the country, and the EU actually bothered to contain Russian aggression and help protect countries that want to join NATO (instead of buying Russian energy and enabling Putin), maybe the US could stop spreading its military all over the earth. If the only way America can stay wealthy is war and military industry, that’s not going to last when the military escapades keep wasting our taxpayer dollars. Plus, if the recent hearings are true, the military (or at very least, large elements of it) have been lying to the public since potentially the 30s, in regard to UAP. So regaining trust is the military’s problem, not the public’s.

[@JohnPeacekeeper]

Because there's now more people with common sense

[@David-bl6yg]

The number one reason why recruitment is down is because of a new medical reporting system that has access to literally EVERYTHING that has happened to you. Things that were swept under the rug are not disqualifying people from enlisting, although saying it’s because the DOD got too “woke” is ignoring this issue, the whole whole thing is definitely a cause for all this. What I want to know is what are the jobs that are being affected by all this? I get that war has changed but I would be very worried if the there are more people signing up for non combat support roles and not enough joining combat roles like the infantry, artillery or armor.

[@rick_el_cigaro]

Dude picked 3 people who regretted their decision to be on his show.

[@mansooraqureshi2696]

Aljazeera go from strength to strength.

[@dilligafmofoker]

Go ahead and put your life on the line for corporations (MIC) and a government that hates you.

[@armpitbeard2031]

A lot of it is because the military's suddenly decided to stop trying to recruit people that would consider joining to try and recruit people that want nothing to do with it.

[@Ultizer]

Yeah too many conservatives don't want to fight for diversity and a country that hates them and diverse groups don't want to fight for a country they hate. it's a sad state.

[@sewerdawgs]

The youth is waking up. They are educated. After IRAQ was expose why would you still join. Thats enough evidence not to join.

[@cjbolan8059]

@armpitbeard2031 This makes no sense. What have you been smoking?

[@armpitbeard2031]

@@cjbolan8059 That Biden pack

[@thebestcentaur]

"Enlistment guarantees citizenship." Problem solved. If the sons and daughters of politicians, oligarchs, and celebrities are not serving, nor will they be subject to a potential draft return, why should sons and daughters of natural American citizens who didn't ask and don't want to subject themselves to the outdated practice of conscription? Create a strong, reputable, guaranteed path to citizenship through military service to prove loyalty to the country, and hopefully our immigration woes will solve themselves...

[@kylesmith8128]

If you work 20 years in the military, retire, and then go back to a poor neighborhood - you should have managed your finances better.

[@sewerdawgs]

Has ptsd. I bet u work for the veterans hospital.

[@tss1305]

Why everyone here speaks on one side’s perspective? Genius

[@nithintha4839]

Joining the US military in 2023 is a L

[@TheDrunkHamster]

The climate change and racism angle are stupid. The sooner everyone realizes this is a class struggle FULL STOP, the sooner we can band together and do something about it

[@julie1630]

This current government does not instill bravery but almost condemns men for being masculine puts more emphasis on telling us how to think, what you must accept regardless of your beliefs. The loyalty to our country used to be absolute. Pledge of allegiance everyday in school, prayer before school started and every sports game. We honored our military so much. We are free because of our determination of prior military support when any enemy threatened us, our men enlisted and wanted to go. Now in school we have drag queens so your child will be influenced and you should be furious!!

[@jaelzion]

There are so many other opportunities these days that offer more, without requiring so much sacrifice and risk. The risk/reward equation does not favor the military.

[@eastafricanist9156]

It's just part of the general decline of the US.

[@rhodam09]

An unbalanced panel no military representative just a bunch of disgruntled former military vets venting their frustrations providing one side of the picture .

[@toyswithyouandme1653]

Genz dosnt even want to go to work lol

[@edwardhudson9851]

"In World War II the average age of the combat soldier was 26... In Vietnam he was 19" "Perhaps the most dramatic difference between World War II and Vietnam was Coming home.. .none of them received a hero's welcome None of them received a heroes welcome" Lyrics from the Song 19

[@scubasteveop3594]

Okay so I’ll 100% agree about toxic leadership. HOWEVER, it’s America as a whole that has the issue. We’ve politicized America as being a place of just pure evil around every corner so of course no one is going to want to join. Also we’ve decided (again leadership doing what leadership does) that we want to step into the political ring and not just demonstrate what we do on the daily. We’ve lost our cohesion for individualism. I can go on and on but I’ll leave it at that. BT this is coming from an Los Angeles Navy recruiter.

[@d3r3kyasmar]

I am interested. I am a Registered Nurse and I want to join to become a Military Nurse Officer. But I earn higher as a civilian nurse compared to being in a Military. Plus i have the freedom and i am a member of a union. Meanwhile, in the military there is no union. No freedom. I have to obey what i will be told. The people who are superior of me will dictate what i can and will do. No freedom because i cannot just travel wherever i want. Why bother joining the military if in the end its not beneficial for me?

[@cjbolan8059]

@d3r3kyasmar All of this is true. Yet many people don't look at the world in terms of pure selfishness. They may feel the call to do personal service for something bigger than themselves, regardless of the impact to their earnings and personal freedom. Some join the military. Others join medical units like Doctors Without Borders that serve the civilian population in war zones and other disaster areas. Non-medical volunteers do humanitarian work. It's a hardship, a calling. And for many, very meaningful.

[@prestonyoung3807]

Wonder if the US would resort to conscription?

[@Wi-Fi-El]

They couldn't enforce it because Canada takes draft dodgers, as does Iceland

[@ooomylordhavemercy]

Search up fragging. The US has tried in Vietnam, but didn't end up so well for a lot of officers.

[@andradeb2695]

Draftees will just go to Canada or Mexico

[@StopNuclearBallisticMissle]

When you have contractors making more than the military that's your problem. I'm surprised the military hasn't done a coup yet😂.

[@flyplayer117]

My son will never be a part of this woke military.....

[@ronpearson1912]

Alot boils down to the contracts as well, I cant make decisions day to day about what im going to accept and not accept once in the military. If I find conditions or actions unacceptable im now stuck and have to follow orders, thats highly problematic.

[@cjbolan8059]

@ronpearson1912 That's the nature of the military. You don't get to pick your own contracts (or your own war). Following orders takes precedence over what you want as an individual. That's the only way it can work.

[@robertcammon5969]

I was in Germany 4 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and my first roommate was from Georgia, and he put up a Confederate Flag. The ignorance was pretty interesting. My section was all white, and as a private, I was doing all the details. I actually volunteered for all post details, so I didn't have to be around my section. The other side of my platoon was majority of NCOs that were pretty cool. They actually had some really cool Black mentors. They took care of me.

[@stannewman8111]

Dont ask Don’t tell . Thats why 59 year men are telling young people do not join . Crazy is not diversity .

[@zharris2216]

Take care of the veterans

[@yuckkiiduckkii5513]

“Most military recruits don’t meet the standards” no just no one wants to join any more cuz the idea of going to die for someone else’s sake while they sitting home eating burgers and fries im getting shot at for 40k a year and if even that😂

[@Keykush31]

We will see how “unsuitable” everybody is once that draft hits 😂

[@Wi-Fi-El]

Nah, we will see how fast I can cross the border into Canada 😆😆😆

[@sisigs4820]

I will revolt if that happens. I'd rather die than fight for corrupt leadership.

[@thebestcentaur]

Guarantee that will not end well for the country at large.

[@andradeb2695]

Lol half of the draftees will go to Mexico or Canada

[@anthonyroberts2678]

I would rather go to prison for the rest of my life or be shot!! Us Army vet 1999-2008

[@attackfive8659]

Why isn’t this panel more balanced? Panelists and moderator are more interested in bashing America and its military than they are in uncovering the truth.