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

My best idea would be to first stop using the military as a social experiment and/or stop pandering to the lowest common denominator. The whole trans stuff in the military doesn't belong, for several logical reasons and not related at all in hate to anyone experiencing such; if it is true body dysmorphia, truly believing they are not who they are, then that is also a psychiatric issue, which is supposed to be disqualifying. Then there is the factor that the number of people truly living and identifying as trans is very low population percentage wise, so why are you making the military change for a tiny number of persons but ignoring the rest? Then you have those that are just identifying as such for attention and yes, this exists a lot, again allowing a recruit minority to dictate how the military works, there is purpose to conformity in the military where there is supposed to be a clear hierarchy, not one laiden with political land mines of accidentally "dead naming" or "misgendering", or even bad reaction to inter-company teasing. This is already clearly impacting morale among the ranks. Finally we have the biggest issue of all, the cancer growing in the deepest part of the military. Lack of true leadership accountability. Under O4-O5 and expect to be used as a scapegoat for the mistakes of those above you. Same in the enlisted ranks above E6-E7. Instead of practicing the leadership mantras drilled into our heads as lower enlisted, it has become a free for all of who can screw who over for the better promotions, awards, and accolades, no matter how minuscule.

When you take a strict and regimented process of the military, and then start bending everything to fulfill the desires of a tiny few, who likely won't be good fit for the military anyway, all while confusing and destroying the espirit de Corps and trust in their leadership. How can you expect anything less than the complete lack of morale and interest in participating in such risky activities, both physically and politically. But what do I know, I haven't been in for 20 years now...

Once you stop with political grandstanding in what is supposed to be apolitical, and show that there is true honor and commitment and show how those that abuse their leadership roles will be punished, not rolled downhill to the lower ranks. Show consistent expectations in the requirements to join, maintain rigorous standards (with room for very small bending as needed), start showing the badass stuff about the military. These would be easy starts. The military is about grooming the best POSSIBLE fighting force, not the best looking on paper for the politicians force. We are supposed to prepare the deadliest warriors so that we will never have to use them. The whole warrior in a garden thing... The problem we have is we look weak, feckless, willing to weaken the bonds of brotherhood for political points, and more willing to sound progressive than producing the deadliest military. This is how our enemies see us. The longer we continue this path, the higher the chance we have an enemy state test out how weak we really are... but as I said before, I probably know nothing as I have been out for so long, so it's just my 2 cents.

Kids today are no longer raised in a vacuum. Their opinions on politics and their awareness of World Affairs is no longer something that is preached to them from their parents, teachers, or like-minded individuals within their community. Information is now so available that many kids today struggle to identify with the goals and agenda of the political class. Moreso, most kids today actually just wholeheartedly DISAGREE with the administrations (plural) because it has become widely known that neither party represents goals that are beneficial to the majority of citizens. Government has gotten out of control. The States continue to lose ground to an overpowering Federal government and kids today do not see themselves being part of the system of “evil” that is the source of the majority of the Worlds problems. Additionally, administrations continue to use the armed forces as “sample groups” and “lab rats” to conduct social experiments while being free from liability for doing it.

What drove recruiting in the past? Two HUGE things:

Retirement (now a 401k anyway so you don’t need the military for that)

GI Bill (now colleges are under attack for fees, the validity of degrees is being questioned, and debt foregiveness is on the table so you don’t need that either)

The question is WHAT EXACTLY -DOES- the military offer a kid today?

Start Drafting, again

The service is problematic for a lot of reasons and is easily seen from the outside in today's world.

Sexism, racism, toxic traits encouraged, fighting for corporate interests which do not match the needs of the US, Socialism for corporate losses but they keep profits for themselves, and those who know what the work.. the life.. is like would not choose to have our young loved ones go into that mess.

Knocking off all the CJW and Woke crap would be a good place to start. The military is an authoritarian institute. Always has been and there is no room for rainbows and unicorns.

Everyone must serve for 2 years after high school.

Be honest with ads, no wokeness, and remind the potential recruits it is a profession, not just a job. I have read that the military needs to respond to the new generation. Duty, Honor, Service. There are enough kids, male, and female that understand that - red white, and blue - no rainbow. Stop being cute inn the ads and let the recruiters go back to basics.

“STOP THE SOCIAL EXPERIMENTS!” All of them, “NOW!” Concentrate on your primary mission, defend the United States of American and the US Constitution from all Enemies, foreign and domestic! The US Military doesn’t need to spend time on defining LGTBQ+ issues or training; let them serve with in US Military regulations….period! The military has never cared how anyone feels yesterday, today or tomorrow…..stop it! Stop Critical Race Theory training, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, race is a very small issue compared (its more a problem of individual beliefs than a systemic issue) to 40 years ago.
Again….Concentrate the DOD core missions….inspire America’s youth to serve with Pride in the USA! Orders are to be obeyed, unless their unlawful, many of the current administrations orders ( from 2020 to 2023) are immoral and therefore unconstitutional!

Lower the standards. More emphasis on teaching pronouns and more Gender Transition funds

Recruiting schools need to go back to the "sales" focused training of the 80s/90s. Determine the Dominant Buying Motive (DBM) and determine needs & interest based on TEAMS. (Training, Education, Adventure, Money & Service to Country).
In the later part of my 79R career, recruiters were not trained on how to overcome objections, developing word pictures and lacked the basic sales skills.
I imagine Cold Calling is painful now that Cell phones have for the most part replaced the land line phones, but recruiters have to get after it.
I have a 17 year old going into his Senior year, we have not received any information via mail/phone etc. in regard to military service.