How can the U.S. military solve its recruiting crisis?

What’s happening

In an effort to address recruitment shortages for most U.S. military services, Congress in recent months has considered a pair of proposals to expand the military draft. One provision would automatically register young men for Selective Service, rather than asking them to do it themselves. The other would also make women eligible for the draft.

The odds of either of these changes becoming law, particularly adding women to the draft, appear slim. But the fact that they’re on the table at all speaks to the deep concerns in Washington about the military’s ongoing recruitment struggles, which has led some experts to question the sustainability of the U.S. armed forces.

No one has been forced to join the military in the United States since the draft ended more than 50 years ago, and each branch’s ability to fill out its ranks has depended on convincing enough people to enlist. That’s always been difficult, but in recent years it's escalated into what the high-ranking officials have portrayed as a “crisis.”

“The all-volunteer force faces one of its greatest challenges since inception,” Ashish S. Vazirani, acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, told the House of Representatives late last year.

In 2023, shortfalls in the Army, Navy and Air Force left the military 41,000 new enlistees short of its recruiting goals. The two smallest branches, the Marines and Space Force, met their recruiting targets. The Army reportedly finished the 2023 fiscal year with 452,000 active-duty soldiers. That’s the smallest the force has been since before World War II and nearly 20,000 members short of the target the branch hopes to hit by the end of the decade.

Why there’s debate

Part of the military’s recruitment problem comes from forces outside of its control, including a strong labor market that has made the traditional workforce more appealing, and disruptions caused by COVID-19 that derailed in-person recruitment for a time.

But experts see plenty of opportunities for the military to attract more service members into its ranks. One of the simplest ways, many argue, is for the armed forces to reconsider the strict standards they have for recruits. According to the Department of Defense, only 23% of Americans between the ages of 17 and 25 even qualify for service once you eliminate everyone who doesn’t meet the physical, mental and lifestyle standards. Easing some of those rules — particularly for those with a history of casual drug use or mental health treatment — could make the potential pot of recruits much bigger.

Others argue that the biggest problems in attracting new soldiers are cultural. Many Republicans blame the military’s recruiting struggles on “wokeness” — a loosely defined term that describes efforts to increase diversity and equity within institutions. They make the case that overly progressive politics are turning away the military’s prime recruiting base, rural white conservatives.

Surveys of potential recruits, however, suggest that the issue is less about meeting anyone’s political preferences and more about building a connection between them and the military. Today’s young people are much less likely to have a parent or sibling who served than previous generations, meaning the military just has less of a presence in their lives. “They see us as revered, but not relevant, in their lives,” the Army’s head of marketing told the Associated Press.

Another big hurdle is convincing young people that they'll be rewarded for making the sacrifice of serving their country. One poll showed that one of the most common reasons for not enlisting was the view that it would mean “putting my life on hold,” rather than a means of advancing their careers. To fix that, some argue, the military needs to create stronger incentives for signing up, including higher salaries, making programs like the G.I. Bill more generous and expanding opportunities for immigrants to earn American citizenship through service.

Changing minds may also require the armed forces to reckon with some of the biggest issues that have soured the public’s view of military service. Those issues include a reports of discrimination and sexual violence within their ranks and a widespread sense that veterans have been left to suffer through physical and mental health issues on their own.

What’s next

Early recruitment figures for 2024 suggest that some of the new policies the military is using to attract more recruits — which include looser standards, bigger bonuses and pre-enlistment education — are helping. In April, both the Army and Air Force reported that they are on pace to meet their recruiting goals for this year. The Navy looks as if it will fall short. But there is still a long way to go to make up for years of recruiting shortfalls.

Perspectives

Young people need to know that they’re signing up for battles that are worth fighting

“The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were both catastrophic failures, and many of the veterans who survived have had their lives ruined by injuries and PTSD. Without the motivating force of an existential threat and with declining trust in institutions, it’s not surprising that Gen Z might not rushing to enlist." — Zeeshan Aleem, MSNBC

A limited draft may be necessary to cover recruiting shortfalls

“The fastest and most effective way to resolve this recruiting crisis is to change how we recruit. Instead of an ‘either an all-volunteer force or a fully conscripted force’ model, I propose a both-and solution. We should have our military recruiters sign up new troops for 11 months out of the year, and then have the Selective Service draft the delta between the military's needs and the total number recruited.” — Joe Plenzler, Military.com

The military needs to ditch outdated standards that eliminate good candidates for no reason

“Until medical standards and waivers are streamlined for recruits (i.e., comport with the reality of American teens), the U.S. military is likely to see continued shortfalls as candidates who previously would have been seen as viable are prevented from joining.” — Luther Ray Abel, National Review

It should be much easier for immigrants to serve

"The U.S. population is now 13.5 percent foreign born, but foreign-born individuals make up less than 4 percent of the military. Thousands of qualified, U.S.-educated potential recruits cannot sign up.” — Margaret Stock, Washington Post

When it comes to the armed forces, wokeness equals weakness

“One of the reasons the military has been among the most trusted institutions in America in recent decades is that it stands apart from the rest of society. It is governed by values such as selflessness, courage, patriotism and sacrifice — not racial discrimination or activist politics. … Welcoming woke policies under a warped idea of inclusion may serve to exclude those who are traditionally more likely to serve.” — Jimmy Byrn, Wall Street Journal

The best way to solve the problem is to pay enlisted service members more

“Caught amid the morass of solutions, it appears that the services have been overlooking the most obvious solution: raising the pay of junior enlisted.” — U.S. Army Maj. Gen. (ret.) John G. Ferrari, Military Times

The military has only itself to blame for weak recruitment

“The armed forces have issues with sexual assault and violence against women that the Department of Defense hasn’t adequately dealt with, along with systemic failures around suicide prevention and poor living conditions in soldier housing. … It is hard to see the good that can be had from military service if these multiple issues continue to occur.” — Daniel Johnson, Chicago Tribune

Attracting new recruits has to start with honoring the people who have already chosen to serve

“Military enlistment is often influenced by families. Many who choose to enter the armed services have a parent, sibling or other family member who set an example for them. But if they see that family member struggling with mental health issues or having trouble receiving veterans benefits amid an ongoing backlog, they may be deterred rather than inspired.” — Jim Whaley, Washington Times

Photo illustration: Alex Cochran for Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images