US Military Recruiting Woes Intensify As Veterans Discourage Enlistment
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Veterans are increasingly advising their family members against joining the US military, causing a strain on the longstanding tradition of multi-generation service as the country’s primary source of new soldiers.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that veterans have become disillusioned with recommending military service due to a tight labor market, concerns over low pay, debilitating injuries, suicides, and inconclusive wars. This recruiting crisis is further exacerbated by the Pentagon's focus on left-wing issues, such as transgenderism and critical race theory.
The abrupt conclusion of the Afghanistan war in August 2021 has added to the frustration felt by some current and former troops. Catalina Gasper, a US Navy veteran who still suffers from a traumatic brain injury sustained during a Taliban attack in Kabul, expressed her dismay, saying, "We were left with the gut-wrenching feeling of, 'What was it all for?'" Gasper is determined to ensure her children never join the military, stating, "I just don't see how it's sustainable if the machine keeps chewing up and spitting out" our young people.
Similarly, US Air Force officer Ernest Nisperos, after experiencing the toll of deployments, decided against having his children enlist in the military. His daughter, Sky Nisperos, had long aspired to follow in the footsteps of her father and grandfather but has now chosen to pursue a career as a graphic designer. One incident during a family trip to Disneyland in 2019, where her father cowered in a fetal position during the fireworks show, remains etched in her memory.
The declining enthusiasm for military service among veterans poses a concerning trend for the Pentagon, as the majority of new recruits come from military families. Nearly 80% of US Army recruits have relatives who have served in the military. Last year, the Army fell 25% short of its recruiting quota, and a similar shortfall is projected for 2023. The Navy, which aims to secure nearly 38,000 enlistments this year, may fall short by as many as 10,000, following a deficit of 3,000 recruits in 2022.
The Pentagon faces the challenge of a limited recruiting pool, as more than seven in ten young Americans are deemed ineligible for military service due to issues like obesity, drug use, and mental illness. A Pentagon poll cited by the Wall Street Journal indicates that only 9% of 16- to 21-year-olds would consider joining the military, down from 13% before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The problem is further compounded by reports of inadequate housing, substandard medical care, and physical abuse within the military. Financial difficulties are also a concern, with over 20,000 active-duty troops relying on food stamps to feed their families.
"Parents have concerns about, hey, if my kid joins the military, are they going to have good places to live?" expressed Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth. "If my kid joins the military, are they going to be sexually harassed, or are they going to be more prone to suicidal ideations?"
