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

The military's greatest challenge in 2023 is recruiting and retaining a qualified workforce. The military is facing a number of challenges in this area, including:

A shrinking pool of eligible recruits. The number of young people who are eligible to serve in the military has been declining for years. This is due to a number of factors, including the aging of the population, the decline in birth rates, and the increasing number of young people who are ineligible to serve due to health problems or criminal records.
A competitive job market. The military is not the only employer that is looking for qualified workers. The private sector is also facing a shortage of workers, and is offering higher salaries and better benefits to attract and retain employees.
A changing view of the military. The military is no longer seen as the only path to a good job or a successful career. Many young people are now choosing to go to college or pursue other careers instead of joining the military.
The military is taking a number of steps to address these challenges, including:

Investing in marketing and outreach programs to reach more potential recruits.
Offering more educational and training opportunities to attract and retain qualified workers.
Working to improve the military's image and make it more appealing to potential recruits.
The military's ability to recruit and retain a qualified workforce will have a significant impact on its ability to meet its mission in the years to come. The military must address these challenges head-on in order to ensure that it has the workforce it needs to protect the nation.

It’s the people who make the machine run smoothly and achieve the mission at hand.

Taking better care of the troops and their dependents financially is always a challenge. However, I believe training for the troops and those who care for them medically regarding mental health is our greatest challenge.

The military needs to improve in taking the stigma out of mental health issues (needing care for anxiety & depression, etc.) through training beginning with boot camp and all throughout the troops career, no matter what rank they may hold. Troops and their leaders must get a better grasp on how serious these issues are. Too many troops and veterans are finding themselves feeling helpless and alone with seemingly nowhere to go and nobody to share with without the risk of humiliation and pushback from their superiors.

Needing help mentally is not weakness, but a medical issue. Knowles and understanding are crucial for the health of our armed forces - for the young men and women serving and sacrificing for our Country and our way of life.

The military’s greatest challenge is to fall under public, media, and social media pressure to make the Armed Forces a “kinder and gentler” force. This has been shoved down our throats since Clinton. Yes, I started serving under Reagan and retired under Obama. We can’t get soft now, or ever! Our country’s security lies with our military strength.

Recrutment and retention. Military pay scale for enlisted has to be raised to keep soldiers, sailors and airmen off of food stamps

Lack of qualified recruits is one. But not number 1. Our school system is dumbing down the young people. The mindset of people fearing to die for anything that matters such as national security. People willing to kill innocent civilians, but won't risk in all for friends and family. Greed and selfishness has set this country on a path to trying to get rich while not realizing that this country is under attack from within. And finance will not solve this. I remember back in the 60's, I think it was in 60 or 61 when Nikita Khrushchev said on Russian state radio that America would fall. And that t would not fall from without, but that it would fall from within. Leadership discissions have weakened us as a nation. And we are too busy pointing our finger at people of different races and cultures. And it is not the races and cultures that are the problem. It is the education and teaching by people in positions of power, people of authority and important leadership making decisions that enrichen people in power while neglecting, "We the people hold these truths to be self evident....." These proclamations were documented in 1776 and approved. But these things have been bartered away for the benefit of the few. Now for a reality check for those of you that think that I am a communist sympathizer, "Think Again!" Straight Record! I was born here in America. I joined the Navy, and did my time. I have strived to be a good citizen. And voted and hoped that my decisions were correct. But, I have learned that what is promised by politicians doesn't seem to be fulfilled. Too many divisions in this country. Instead of coming together to agree to what is best for this country. The fight seems to be, let us fight against this or that because they are voting for that or this. So, the greatest challenge for the military is the greatest challenge for America as well. Quality Citizenship, and quality leadership. Read this or not! Trust this or not! Believe this or not! The truth will show itself. Just watch, like the "Fly on the wall!" It sees everything while not being seen itself.

1.) One of the (Greatest challenge in 2023) to me is for the need for a better (VA Healthcare for all Veterans):
WHY: I am a Vietnam War Era Veteran and I belong to a VVA Chapter 1046, and I see a lot of our members constantly fighting to get disability for Agent Orange since they had cancer from it. They are still fighting for it shamefully. Over the past few years, I've seen several die, before they were approved for VA Disability due to Agent Orange.
Also, here in Jacksonville, Florida, there are so many veterans here, however, the VA Medical Center only has a few doctors per specialty, so it takes about 2 to 3 months to get an appointment to see a specialist. This must change. Get more doctors, get more specialists.
Some of the VA Doctors are not qualified to be a specialist and/or a doctor. You have to see your main VA doctor, in order to see a VA specialist, so this takes time, even if you have Community Care.
There is not enough VA doctors and VA specialists which many veterans may be challenged with a major disease, illness, or medical treatment condition that needs urgent care.
2.) Another of the (Greatest challenge in 2023) is today's military recruitment and retention. Providing career paths for employees with excellent benefits and job satisfaction is difficult in combat arenas, and the complex demographic, psychological, and political contrasts in our country surrounding recruiting and retention make those two jobs increasingly difficult.
WHY: Other countries are seeing our country as weak, and USA is getting less powerful with our military!

I believe it's underestimating our opponents. Our government and younger generations don't realize the importance of the military, in protecting their rights and their lives. Thinking that we can talk out our worldly problems and be peaceful isn't just ignorant, it's downright dangerous. When someone declares war on our country, where will talking and a diminished military force get us? I'd rather not find out.

Building advantages in strategic competition to include cyberspace and outer space. Adapting to climate change, which is expected to bring about more frequent and severe natural disasters, which the military must be prepared to respond to.

Getting qualified people to commit to the Military, as long as Veterans are being treated like second class citizens and their finances are going to be put in jeopardy by the President and the Government, we will not give anyone who asks if they should join up any kind of glowing report. When the Department Of Veterans Affairs, decides to not pay for the procedure that they requested, or perhaps they sent you a letter saying that you should have driven your self to the hospital when you were having a widow maker heart attack. Or maybe just when you are getting sued by a medical professional because the VA just doesn't care about you and the Government is right there with them, why would you say to that all around jock with the 3.8 GPA that the Military will have his back and his best interests at heart without laughing in his face.

Wokeness to include indoctrination