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

Mine may be the most unpopular opinion for this thread. 1. Elect some politicians who have the intestinal fortitude to take the necessary steps to reinstate the draft with NO exceptions. 2. Make the draftee choose between military and civilian service with bonuses for military service (payment contingent on successful completion of the initial term of service). 3. Stop the PC bs and get back to the basics of Military service and try to inspire some pride in the country instead of sefl.

Well, first you have to tackle the problems that caused this issue. For the last 20 years, you’ve had soldiers ran ragged, and when they finally do come home all war torn, the VA isn’t taking good care of them. The current recruiting generation isn’t stupid. They’ve seen this happen. You’ve got to remedy this, wholesale. Second, you need to offer something that they need and want. Most kids today know this is a late stage capitalism hellscape, and that a college degree only guarantees them barely livable wages. You have to find a better way to get them. Free healthcare for life without having to get fucked up in a combat zone might be a good place to start. Lifetime tax breaks? Be creative. They’re not stupid. They know what’s going to carry them through life and what’s just shiny bullshit.

We will not survive the current Marxist administration's destruction of the U.S. military. The leadership of the U.S. military is totally incompetent and incapable of anything other than promoting LGBTQ DECADENCE .

Do away with Woke first thing. A start.

Answer is simple, end the woke crap, get back to training men for war and women for support, and end abortion / sex change coverage. Go back to being selective based on merit, not ideology / ethnicity / sexuality. 3 easy steps, and if you reallye wanna see numbers jump, bring back don't ask don't tell.

The Army just isn’t the same as it was 10+ years ago. Soldiers are too soft. The regulations are too soft. This country is becoming too soft.

Sh&t can woke policies for a start.

Trying to remain non-partisan...I suspect that between a war in Iraq that led no where for no good reason, a war in Afghanistan that was justified...that led nowhere and was a disaster at the very end. A tight labor market and some very strong feelings about our political situation, we have a serious problem. Add to that the FACT that a significant part of the recruiting demographic are military families, and they apparently are not encouraging their sons and daughters to serve, well then you have a serious recruiting problem. Also, most Americans don't serve, don't want to serve and or are scared to serve...you can surge money but you cannot surge patriotism and we have relied on money and patriotism to fill our ranks. I DO have a solution though. How about all of the amazing leaders in our Congress and Senate and the influencers out in Hollywood actually lead by example and get their kids to serve? That would show everyone that it's OK to serve and not scary and dangerous. You know, Lead by Example?

Relax both the age limits and discharge requirements allowing older veterans and those who were discharged under anything but dishonorable to enlist. Think of the money and time saved training prior service vets.

I was a retention nco and I received new recruits that were supposed to show up for duty, but never did. The reason was, no incentive. When I enlisted, you signed on the dotted line and you damned well better show up or face prison time. Now if you get cold feet or chicken out you just stay home.

The problem with the military is the politicians have tuned it into a social experiment and it is failing. We have lost three wars because of the policies of the politicized military, Korea, Vietnam, and the Mideast. The military is no longer allowed to fight the enemy. It is no wonder the U.S. has lost respect in the world and is shoved around by any and every half baked dictator in the world.

You want to increase the military strength and might on the world stage, reinstitute the draft. Three year Mandatory service. the benefits would be astronomical. Not only would you increase our military strength, but it would instill respect and self reliance and teach job skills that could be used in the civilian world, and a world view as to how other people live.

The military teaches respect, pride, and self reliance that so many lack today.