Marines say they hit recruiting goals and point to ‘unapologetic’ standards

[rangerrebew]

 
Marines say they hit recruiting goals and point to ‘unapologetic’ standards
By  KONSTANTIN TOROPIN
Updated 5:17 PM EDT, September 29, 2025
QUANTICO, Va. (AP) — The Army, Navy and Air Force, with encouragement from the Trump administration, all announced this summer that they had met their recruiting goals months ahead of schedule.

That is a major shift from the past several years when the military has failed to meet its recruiting goals because of complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, tight job markets and a growing generation of young Americans struggling to meet fitness and academic standards. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed the turnaround as an early victory, arguing that recruits had been put off by what he called a weakened military under Democratic President Joe Biden.

However, the uptick began well before President Donald Trump won office again in November, and a major driver has been programs the services started years ago to boost numbers.

While the Marine Corps didn’t wade into the fray earlier, it is now claiming success. And the general in charge of the effort says the politics of the moment have had no impact on Marine recruiting.

https://apnews.com/article/marines-recruiting-trump-hegseth-military-2ac59074e6dca3688b4b096458afd98c

[rangerrebew]

But are the standards fair, fair to quadriplegics, the blind, or Mongolians?  Where is the equity for all people, everywhere, like it was under Biden?