Posted on Jul 20, 2023
SSG Carlos Madden
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The recruiting struggles continue across all branches. What is causing it and how should it be addressed?

https://www.wsj.com/story/the-us-army-expects-to-end-up-15000-recruits-short-this-year-b5e9de86
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MSgt Scott Howard
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Refocus on what the military does, fighting. The DEI stuff and the purge of patriotic soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines definitely sent the wrong signal. These are the very ones who believe in our Constitution and are willing to fight for it
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Sgt Bebe Brock
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I think the military needs to make a huge effort to use social media effectively. The younger generations are all about social media and get so much of their information/news/influence from it. If the military had social media specialists (maybe make it a part of the public affairs office and hire/train social media specialists) that used social media in a way that appealed to kids, they may catch the attention of young people. Glitzy, sleek, social media posts sets to cool music showing the really exciting stuff like the jets, the pilots, the firearms, the carriers and subs, the guys jumping out of planes, the world travel such a military members stationed in other countries like Japan/Korea/Germany/England. Stuff like that would intrigue younger folks. Also emphasize the benefits like the GI Bill, the free housing and medical/dental and the free comprehensive training that you get to do your military job and how that training can help you get hired after you return to civilian life. How about an outreach program to the Department of human services of each state and try and coordinate with them to give information packets about military service to kids that are about to age out of foster care? The recruiters could have the packets pre-made with all the pamphlets and booklets and their contact information and the social workers could hand them out to the kids. These kids have no resources or family to help them after they age out and the military would actually be an ideal option for them.
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PO1 Courtney Roberts
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Recall & reassess all those rej cted or expelled for ADHD & similar reasons. Those diagnoses were predominantly the symptoms of failed parenting, not defective men !
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1SG Dave Brown
1SG Dave Brown
>1 y
Agreed. I believe ADD and ADHD are a myth. It came from post-1960's "parents" who were too weak to enforce discipline at an early age. They took the lazy way out: Let's medicate our self-created problem away.
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CSM Ed Hepler
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Stop this transgender crap. Bring back the MEN and WOMEN, along with the requirements and standards once required...and get the VA up to par so vetrans can get the care they deserve...stop the automatic "no" response!
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Stop calling young Caucasian males they are all racist. Stop declaring how all men are sexist. Stop indicating that Christians hate people who disagree with them. Stop pushing Diversity,Equity and Inclusion without ever defining what that means
PFC Kay Armstrong
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Stop all the transgender and rainbow flags. Vote Joe Biden out of office. He doesn't respect the little people in the military, left our soldiers behind in Afghanistan to be killed, and has too many Chiefs and not enough "Indigenous people".
There is no respect for Joe Biden. I can't believe he had pride flags and topless transgender people at the white house. We have no military parades and flags flying in the homeless areas or even universities. JUST VOTE BIDEN OUT!!!
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FN Dennis Cliff
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Today's US Military has the reputation of being in line with "Woke", Left Wing ideology, that values inclusiveness over merit. Configure the military back to the organization that it was sixty years ago. Study what happened to the Budweiser Co. when they incorporated Left Wing elements.
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PO2 David Reichert
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I think we need to understand that military service is not attractive. It is essentially indentured servitude. I joined because my father was a WW2 and Korea vet. In my family you served. I did not like it, it was miserable. You need to be completely devoted to the service. Friends, family, other pursuits all become second. That was my reality. Service needs to be sold as a duty to your country much as paying taxes. You earn your right to be here though military service. It isn't fun but it is necessary. I think we need a program where all serve, perhaps a couple years. Forget this nonsense of recruitment, it doesn't work.
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FN Dennis Cliff
FN Dennis Cliff
>1 y
My time in the USN was one of my top three life experiences. As a nineteen-year-old out of a dysfunctional family of abuse, I found the Navy to be a good father, and joining when I did probably saved my life. The Navy gave me technical training that insured good employment later. I got to cruise on a world circumnavigation on a nuclear-powered missile cruiser. Our ship spent a total of eleven months in the Mediterrean sea, so I got to experience so many countries. I have not a single complaint regarding my experience in the Navy.
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PO2 David Reichert
PO2 David Reichert
>1 y
I am glad that the Navy worked for you. It does for some. However for the those that have options, the military seems to come at the bottom of the list. I still feel that military service should be compulsiary, not voluntary.
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FN Dennis Cliff
FN Dennis Cliff
>1 y
Yes, in time of war it would have to be compulsory. I think that the US military gets higher quality people with less behavior problems if it is a volunteer arrangement.
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PO2 David Reichert
PO2 David Reichert
>1 y
FN Dennis Cliff - Sorry, but my experience tells me different. I was in from '69 to '73. It was during that time that we stopped the draft and went all volunteer. The quality of personel definately dropped. I am not knocking the people we got, their hearts were in the right place. But potential recruits that had better job or schooling options did not join. Military service must be considered an obligation not an option.
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SSgt Steven Blanchard
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Live showing of openings. Drown Races, Pilots, Example! AT&T used the reactor for signups.
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CW3 Hr Department Supervisor
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The cycle of poverty will always give us enough people with little other options. It’snsad but true. I am a product of it.
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