What do you see as the military's greatest challenge in 2023 and why?

The challenge begins before that fresh-faced kid raises his hand to take that oath that we veterans never retracted when we left our Call to Duty behind and carried on with the rest of lives. It begins within the home. It begins within the society that raises them. It begins with those little challenges as they grow up and are allowed to work through them on their own. There is wisdom in an over used phrase we take for granted, “it’s the little things that count!” These “little things” are the building blocks for our character. All you guys know what I’m talking about because you’ve been there when you took that plunge and raised that right hand. It may have waned after being exposed to the realities of service and you vowed to make it through to the honorable end of your enlistment…but, you made it through. Somehow, someway, maybe because of someone, you walked into that recruitment office to step up to what our country needs, that character that was willing to put yourself in second place and do the right thing for, not just your country, but everybody’s country. So, every aspect of our society, whether in the home, your workplace, your institution of learning from preschool to a Phd, your belief in your religion, or not, is where we begin to build that character. Final thought to ponder. I have six adult kids and I am proud of each one. They’ve had their own accomplishments through their lives in school, sports, work, and families. I am not proud of those trophy moments. I am proud that they found it within themselves to commit to the greater good and in their own way, raised that right hand.

Having a force that understands what they are fighting for. Today’s arrest of a uniformed individual (regardless of active duty status or branch) is a perfect example. Without the understanding of our Constitution, how can you honor your oath to protect the values contained therein? Military personnel must have that sense of duty and respect at all levels. It’s hard to maintain a strong force without inner strength of character - up AND down the chain of command.

Recruitment and Retension

The integration of trans into the military.

I’m concerned about the upper echelon in all branches of service.Many of our top war brains have been drummed out or replaced.Between politics and the now “woke “approach to manning our military,I fear, if we had to go into conflict.With Defense budget cuts and the giveaway of top equipment I.e.the latest in night vision gear as an example, we may have relegated ourselves to a third most powerful nation.Since we are not currently on a war front,l fear our military has been pushed to a back burner.

Greatest challenge: Getting a filed Disability Claim to fruition. Why:It has taken me 4 years of supplying information, placing phone calls, visiting VSO's, and going to claims centers. To this date no firm information has been supplied by the Veterans Administration Claims.
Center., other than "Wait"

Recruitment and retention.

CPT Edward Samuel | Army

The military greatest challenge I believe is making it's enlistment quotas year over year. Why, because the leaders (Secretary of Defense and Secretaries of the Services) in today's military have lost their focus of purpose of why they joined the military in the first place. The military's focus should Only be Duty, Honor, Country and push this mindset relentlessly in everything it does. This is what has made our military the greatest fighting force in the world and is respected as such.
Mission First!!!

The military has a few challenges,. Retention, recruiting and Political Agenda. Most of the younger generations are not patriotic, they have no idea what it would be like to lose our freedom. Our politicians are not governing our country, there is no bipartisan agreements, Republicans and democrats are trying to destroy each other.

Recruiting!