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

The shortage of recruits is because our military age possible recruits are being given so much by the current regime. (example paying off student loans) I would solve the problem by reinstating the draft. The overweight would quickly trim down in Basic Training. It would give them all a purpose in life!

Start the draft up again. It would help young people grow up and learn about thenselves. Semper Fi

increased pay, shorter tours, improved educational opportunities,

Several factors:
1. Recruiters are placing an unnecessary amount of effort to recruit people based on "social constructs" as some like to put it. Joining the military is about defending this country and its way of life, not whether you're black, white, gay, trans, Christian, or Muslim. Recruiting can and should absolutely work to advertise where each demographic congregates, but they shouldn't be pandering to any of them.

2. Many Veterans who have left the military are describing their experiences after they leave more candidly, and are identifying the significant amount of training and efforts being placed on things that are not related to the work they were sent to do. Training gets far too repetitive simply because some people fail to put it to use properly. Instead of punishing and or simply having individuals retrain after they screw up, we just make everyone take the training annually or more. Take suicide training for example... This was an annual requirement (I'm sure it still is), and it seemed to get longer and more intense each year. I'm sorry but when suicide rates go up, despite the ramp up of training, adding even more training isn't going to solve the problem. On top of that, in order to facilitate much of this training, servicemen and women are expected to take time out of their primary role to lead or take it. I once read that the #1 reason pilots in the Air Force said they're leaving the Air Force is because they spend more of their time with additional duties vs their actual job.

3. To emphasize #2 comment on additional duties and what Veterans are speaking out about, this has reached a ridiculous state. We reduce the numbers in certain career fields (even eliminating the career field all together) and pass along those duties to those that remain. Additionally, lower ranking members are expected to do so much more with so much less. When I came into the Air Force, it was not uncommon to see a Captain Flight Commander have an Civilian/Airman admin assigned to them for the purpose of clerical work. Today, Lt Cols are lucky to get them. Some have even opted on their own to get rid of them and have the remaining people under them take on those duties. Not because they wanted to, but because they been given the directive to reduce manpower. Eventually this boils over and those who remain are overwhelmed with additional work that isn't their core duty.

4. Next, there is a lot of talk about toxic leadership and unfortunately, I saw this get worse over my 27 years working within the DoD. Leaders have become more risk adverse, all about CYA, caring less about the actual welfare of their troops (unless CYA comes into play), and they play games to get ahead. Truly bad people are navigating their way through the system to make rank, and when they take command (or even simply just "lead" a number of people in general), they create a toxic environment in which more and more servicemen and women (good ones) decide not to put up with it and leave. The problem is, most of those who practice an overabundance of CYA vs taking managed risks, are the ones I describe. They are playing the game vs looking at how to best get the mission done.

5. We are no longer at war and as much as I do not want to bring politics into this, President Biden has essentially made many young Americans question why we bother going to war in the first place by pulling out troops of Afghanistan. Not that I want war, but it cannot be denied that the military does not do well in recruiting when there are no significant wars being fought. Case in point, look at the recruting numbers in 1999, prior to 9/11. What happened then? Balkan war was over, Persian Gulf War was reduced to no-fly zone enforcement and Clinton was slowly ignoring the activities in Iraq and the Middle East in general after his final significant military action of Operation Desert Fox. Things were slowing down and there wasn't much of an emphasis on joining the military as a result. The same thing has come full circle. Biden pulled out of Afghanistan, there are little to no military actions going on around the world, and the military has far less to do which could appeal to the average American. However, I say this is a calm before an impending storm.

To sum it up, we have a perfect storm of risk adverse and toxic decisions coming from our leadership, an overabundance of additional duties, counterproductive recruiting goals, and a lack of significant crisis action to appeal to the American people. I'll also add that we continue to enable, ignore, and pander to those who speak ill of this country, driving their numbers and actions up.

What about “retention”? Kids being recruited today are expected to be “fit” though many of their parents who serve, teachers…..are not.
I have suggested to the White House several years ago, we need a National Health and Fitness Strategy…let’s use our Resources such as Active, Guard, State facilities and use our instructors who love to instruct…
We all, including me, could really use some “shaping up”…..you never know what’s coming…China does it

Don’t give the same benefits to reserves and make education on base a priority again. Should turn hobby shops into technical schools too and bring back real MWR

You can't fix the recruiting problem without fixing the social problem first. United we stand, divided we fall. Too bad "united" doesn't make any advertisement money or get anyone clicks or likes because it doesn't "outrage" anyone. Furthermore, the influence by social media either wholly controlled by our international political and military adversaries or infiltrated by a large number of their bots, can no longer be ignored as a further de-stabilizing factor. Statistics seem to generally indicate some 70+% of folks in this country are pretty centric and reasonable. They just don't have representation in politics or the media. When everyone thinks they are hated by their neighbor for being (often merely slightly) politically opposite or for whatever other reason (whatever the daily pick by media, social media, or politics is), or that they can never say anything that is right, a front sufficiently united to make the sacrifice of health, well-being, and life palatable for "this we will defend" is impossible. Under the current political strife and the uncertainty of what the common, actual consensus among our people is, the average person is understandably reluctant to make such a commitment. Even the thread on this post bears some evidence of the disintegration of our unity, especially considering this is an environment of very like-minded folks. I believe most here would actually be standing side by side as comrades in arms, came push-to-shove. Here like anywhere else in our country, we should be focusing and celebrating what we have in common instead of hating each other or fighting over what, in most cases, are really insignificant differences in comparison. If the person you are standing with is loyal, honest, helpful, trustworthy, dependable, and dedicated to get the mission done, nothing else matters. They deserve respect for whoever they are, and also for their sacrifices made for the common good. Just my humble opinion.

In the past recruits have often been children or others who have had older family members who have served. In my family, four of our five sons have served in one capacity or another. One good incentive has been education opportunities. I have tried to be a good example to them, having served a combined 32 years of National Guard, active and Reserve service. While not every service dependent is a good prospect, many are and this is a great place to look for motivated and willing prospects for service--people already familiar with service life.
Also, at a time we have a border crisis and immigrants who want to be good American citizens, why not offer a military option for those who are willing and qualified to serve? In the past many draftees were migrant farm workers and many distinguished themselves in uniform. Anyone who wants to be an American should be offered this kind of opportunity.
Not every kid is a spoiled, overweight brat. Recruiters should visit campuses and look for the best candidates for service and make sure they are aware of the many benefits of serving and look for ways to motivate them. Academy prospects should begin preparation as early as junior high.
I was honored to begin my service as an enlisted member and I prized my first stripe as much as my silver leaf. Serving IS an honor--let's show it!

Stop lowering the standards to pass. Increase Bootcamp back to 13weeks. Out back the basics for each service, advance fire fighting damage control, infantry etc... When I joined I did not worry that I was not fit enough to make it , I assumed I would be whipped into shape... Same thing I told those joining or asking me my opinion... Stop giving them a easy out... Make them do the full 9weeks then you can boot them. Pride and respect and friendships are made when you struggle together... Stop acting as if all Americans need to agree on everything... The military and organizations are not made or based on 100% agreement... The agreement is we will follow orders... Political parties change along with the will of civilians... Rules of engagement and what serve does not ... The military prepares for war, we do not chose or decide when it takes place... We carry out the mission before us ... We make due with what we have... Not wait until the perfect recruit or weapon arrives ...

This is a great country and to keep it great everyone has to do their part. I would enact a Draft. Then you would have a choice enlist or get drafted for a minimum of two years active, two years Reserves. Our Democracy will fall from within, when it is taken for granted. The draft would be for ALL, male and female. Then restore the college entitlement and apprenticeship programs. No I am not a war monger, I just believe we all should do our part in keeping our country free. I served eight years. Some of the others I served with were engineers, who just enlisted but did not want to be officers. I learned a lot from these guys. I have no regrets having served. There are great educational opportunities in the military no matter which branch a person can get for just serving.. if you want it.