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

Get the Government to quit giving away free college to those who haven't earned it would be good start

The military is in trouble because of bad leadership.
Simple fix every officer and civilan leader over the rank of Captain (03 or above) retire today. I know the argument we need good leaders think about current leadership Sec Austin disapeared for a week no one knew he was gone and noone was looking for him military worked fine without him. Senior military leaders lack honesty integrity and charactor. O-1 through O-3 have a chance to become quality leaders but the current leadership will run the good ones off and keep the POS just like Sec Austin and Gen. Milley.
Shut down the War Collage we saw how well that worked in Afghanistan.
Focuse on your new enlisted. Rather than waste money advertising with the NFL and doing Fly over for professional sports take that money and invest in JROCT make JROTC fun rather than teach drill and ceremony take them to the range and shoot M4, teach and run land navigation. Teach and run obstacle cources and repelling. Make the military fun again.
Change the markting plan. Currently the military promotes ALL white people are bad, racists, evil, former slaveowners who have had a privlaged life. And it is working white recrutes are down. Unfortunatly the transgender and GLBT folk that the military desires are not signing up. But then again if we get rid of our leaders the plan will change.

1. Stop advertising about "inclusivity" in the military. The military is NOT "inclusive," it is EXCLUSIVE. People who want to join will apply, people who do NOT want to join will NOT apply. The EEO message is for the joiners and can be communicated and enforced as it has been (especially recently). We are kind of like a Private Club (no pun intended). If you want to join, show that you want to join. You show us, not the other way around.

2. Start generating some DANG pride in our Country, as opposed to pride in ... ahem ... well, let's just focus back on our country. Start in the Junior High Schools, and work up from there.

3. Advertise the Enlistment-as-a-path-to-Citizenship aspect. Advertise other benefits, such as free skill training (i.e. electrician, plumber, metal/wood/etc. fabrication, clerk, secretary [and don't tell me those don't pay well], technician, painter, etc.).

4. Show some success stories. Mine: I was part of a team that did final assembly and checkout of the Space Shuttle Orbiter (Discovery and Atlantis). I STOOD ON THE FLIGHT DECK OF A SPACE SHIP!

I will make this brief since I am retired Air Force and casually keep up with current events. My understanding is that the Air Force raised the age limit to 42. This can probably entice people to enlist, serve 20 years and be enabled to lock in the points needed for Social Security benefits at their retirement age. And speaking of points for Social Security - that could be a way to solve the recruiting challenge. If the people on the street understand that they can have a guaranteed job -> career -> points for Social Security, maybe that will entice them.

Don’t recruit illegals, like Democrats want to do. Can be a threat to national security because of the fact there is no way to background check to see if they have terrorist ties. There are people coming in the southern border that are from Africa and the Middle East. The way to have more people in military is to have what Israel has and that is to have mandatory service in armed forces. Of course they should still do medical testing and ASVAB testing. They should have to do at least 2years with option to extend to get full benefits also most of the time they will stick it out to get their 20 years. Also people that are naturalized and those who become legal citizens should also serve as well.

Activate the selective service system and make it mandatory that all illegal aliens captured on American soil be inducted into a "prep school" designed for conscription to active duty military service and citizenship or be deported.

Draft.

I have worked with many young adults in the community over the years. Already, many of these individuals have faced many of life's challenges. I often encourage joining the military because when I was out of high school and unaware I sought the opportunities of the military. Many who have trusted me and attempted to join shared that there are requirements that are now put into place i.e. having college credits. This should truly be revised or eradicated because in current times and forward the challenges that are faced by them will never allow or provide the resources that are needed. The requirements to join should be minimalized. College is not the answer for everyone.

Spent 12 years in the Army recruiting command starting right after the end of Vietnam. It has never end easy to fill the ranks with bright young kids but for the most part we shoot ourselves in the foot. You have 4 branches of service competing with each other for the same group of kids. After a recruiter from each branch tells them how bad the other is the kids simply decide none of them are telling the truth and say no to all. Stop putting one service ahead of the other create a DOD recruiting with members of each branch with a goal of filling all branches needs. The cost savings from reduced space could be better spent on advertising. Any idea how much money could be saved with not four but just one recruiting command! Could you just imagine a Air Force recruiter saying " I'm sorry but all those aircraft maintenance jobs in the AF have been taken, but did you know the Army has one of the largest air force in the world and they need maintenance too. It's never going to be easy but we can stop making it so hard.

Invoke the Draft... Make it a four year commitment / Problem Solved