What should we do to encourage the next generation to serve?

Many soldiers (myself included) joined in hopes of discovering our long term career path. I believe we would see a keen increase in recruitment by adding a “job rotation” program while enrolled in MEPS.

In today's world, stop emphasizing liberal woke policies in the Department of Defense. Let men be men and women be women. The young people of this country that want to serve don't want to serve with people they are not sure of. Return to the policies of the 1970's when the all-volunteer military became a fact. It worked well and did not have a problem recruiting young men and women

Equal opportunities and respect for minorities; assault in all forms is an epidemic in our forces and until it is rectified our recruitment and retention will suffer and so will our fighting American spirit. The duality of serving your country can coexist with safety and respect from fellow troops.

SGT Elbrist Mason, it starts with your presence. Potential recruits are looking for something to look up to; I invite young women and men to serve our country, because they have a right and, an obligation!

The offers/promises you make, you have to keep. The pitch… learn a job skill, see the world, make lifetime friends, be the best that you can be. Show patriotism for your country. We will pay you well, provide medical coverage for all your needs. We will not tolerate sexual harassment/assault , irregardless if your gender and we will offer a safe place/person for you to report offenders to.you can stand up for and defend your country, no matter who you are!

Unfortunately the youngest generation is all about themselves. With country wide morale also being at an all time low, you're going to have to appeal to the benefits each individual can get during and after service.

Stop with the woke stuff.

I think you should tell them what a honor and a privilege it is to serve in the services. Talk about how we are not a perfect country but Weare one of the best countries in the world . All the freedoms and privileges that each American has is because someone before them served in the service to fight for the freedoms and privileges we have today. Also mentioned how being in the services is a special kind of community and "family" we may fight each other and disagree on things but in the end we have each other's backs. Many people in the government were first a service member.

Support each other. Be honest when approached by someone interested. My time in service was filled with many great things and a few not-so-great things. But overall, it gave me a sense of purpose, duty, and honor. It taught me more than any university or trade school ever could. Yes, there are ugly aspects of the military, like any career we choose. But to be in uniform is the greatest challenge and the greatest honor a US citizen can hope to achieve. Any prospective young man or woman should hear all the stories, all the good, bad, and ugly. But they should also hear the pride in our voice when we talk about how it felt to put on that uniform for the first time. The butterflies in our stomachs when taps played on a trumpet near the grave of a fallen hero. There's a reason so many of us chose to join, and I think deep down, we are all better for it and should let the next generation know that.

We should focus on individual engagement and progression as well as “the mission.” Too often are soldiers locked into positions that become lackluster and obsolete to them personally. Having BETTER and MARKETED programs that offer career advancement (within their current field or ANY other) opportunities is exciting and well warranted. The more satisfied the employee is with their work and environment, the better the quality of work they’re producing. There’s a new program called Career Ready that does just that and it’s now being introduced to government employees; I think extending this program across each military branch and actually putting in work to make it as well understood & known to soldiers as the functions of MyPay are would be very invigorating.