Why (Almost) No One Wants to Join the U.S. Army
Story by Kris Osborn • Yesterday 3:24 PM
Speculation about the U.S. Army’s recruiting challenges revolves around a number of disconnected factors, including the economy, the availability of information about the challenges of military life, recruits’ inability to meet minimum standards, low morale, or the simple fact that the U.S. military is no longer engaged in active conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The challenge is real. Statistics show that the Army fell 15,000 soldiers short of its recruiting goal during this last fiscal year, and more struggles are anticipated this year.
Regardless of the variables contributing to the equation, there is no question that the military is struggling to add new recruits. In trying to understand why, there are several simple things to consider.
A War on the Rocks essay gives a few reasons why the recruiting equation might not be as dire as some think. The essay points out that the economy is a huge factor. With unemployment low and a large range of available jobs, there are fewer people looking for a new life path. The essay also makes the point that recruiting has decreased since the U.S. military left Afghanistan, suggesting that military service may seem less compelling when the U.S. is not immersed in an active conflict.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/why-almost-no-one-wants-to-join-the-u-s-army/ar-AA1de5eM?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=b4b5cc55f8fe424d8550d004b308eaef&ei=17