How would you solve the military recruiting challenges currently facing DOD?

Downsize the branches of the Forces IE under Article One Section of the Constitution the Congress is allowed to have an Army and Navy. The Corps of Marines is part of the Navy. The Air Force and Space Force are NOT part of the Army..

Started recruiting for the ARNG in Michigan in 1975. Have been a field recruiter worked in the recruiting command, been a MEPS counselor and an area supervisor, and a retention NCO in my 25 years in recruiting. The issue is the pool that we are trying to get our recruits from is not only getting smaller but has been getting smaller for years! I sat in a class with 5 PHDs that studied demographics and they more or less said that the pool of qualified male applicants(QMA) has shrunk and will continue to shrink in the near future. I have watched recruiters struggle to make missions that were not attainable or maintainable in the long run! I have seen young applicants come that were not able to pass the physical when they could pass the test and then balk when they couldn't get the MOS they wanted and leave for training when they want.
The answer is the services must either commit the ultimate deal breaker and bring back some sort of draft or set their goals lower and realize they will have to make do with what the demographics can provide them. I know that that's not what they want to hear but the truth and the facts are what they are. I have watched recruiting go from the fat times in the 70-80's to the lean times in the 90 and on and I can't see it getting better.

Bring back civilian recruiters. Army recruiters who have retired or separated from the military honorably. Used to be L-3, MPRI handled the Army civilian recruiting. The number sky rocketed during those years back in the 2010's. Also bring back recruit referrals that paid $2k per soldier that shipped to Basic and graduation AIT...

Ditch the present social justice agenda and focus on mission. The people who we want to join the military are those that want to challenge themselves and be part of a cause bigger than themselves. However, the current social justice agenda has incorporated Marxist ideology into the highest echelons of leadership where it is most visible and it has resulted in the hemorrhaging of personnel and reduced recruitment.

Keep it simple, I present this ad campaign for your perusal....
The Army (Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, Draco/Grey Empire, et al.,)
will help you ° Find what you can achieve.
° Find your sense of Duty,
° Your moral compass,
° Find Fellowship,
° Find Greatness, find yourself.
Find out more at your local recruiter, TODAY.
Or visit AwwwwYeeeaahhh.mil
You're welcome.
Oh! Remember to add the effects laden backgrounds, etc.,

Today's kids cannot even score high enough to pass the asvab . First we need to see why today's kids are not getting the proper education so they can pass a basic test.

Use common sense in recruiting and give military members real technical training skills like they would get at a two year college so they can walk into a job making 45,000 a year. Also fix the pay. No one serving in the military should ever be eligible for food stamps. Improve housing for members and their families and have social workers assigned to both barracks and housing areas kind of like the idea of block wardens who are responsible for a city block. Then if something is found to be wrong, quietly get them help. Do not pull people’s security clearances unless absolutely necessary so they can continue in their job and get help quietly. Also superiors need to not be so vindictive about giving their subordinates the times off they request so they can get the help they need or attend their children’s events.

The Army has become “Zero Defect”, but people aren’t. The Army understood this in the 90’s. Now, there is no infringement too small to ruin a career (enlisted or officer). We expect 18 year olds to act like 40 year olds. Now, the Army has lost the trust of parents, including military parents like myself. All 4 of my boys are capable of service, but no way would I consider sending them to be lead by self serving, “Yes” Men/Women. As the military can “lose faith” in a Commanding Officer, so has the public “lost faith” in the organization, refusing to send out kids is the ultimate demonstration of that.

Stop being WOKE. There are still plenty of good men and women that would join the military if there is a challenge for them. Stop rewarding the special interest groups.

Reinstate the draft -- for women as well as men. Unfortunately, history isn't taught in schools any more, and today's young people are all for socialism. It needs to change before the United States we knew is gone.