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U.S. Military Cant Find Recruits
July 17, 2022 at 3:13 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment
https://politicalwire.com/2022/07/17/u-s-military-cant-find-recruits/
"SNIP.......
New York Times: These are tough times for military recruiting. Almost across the board, the armed forces are experiencing large shortfalls in enlistments this year a deficit of thousands of entry-level troops that is on pace to be worse than any since just after the Vietnam War. It threatens to throw a wrench into the militarys machinery, leaving critical jobs unfilled and some platoons with too few people to function.
......SNIP"
comradebillyboy
(10,175 posts)conditions. Otherwise bring back the draft for both men and women.
Freddie
(9,275 posts)And control of our bodies.
I imagine theyre not getting a lot of women recruits. Who wants to fight for the country that just made them second class citizens?
As if the sexual harassment problem in the military isn't bad enough already.
former9thward
(32,082 posts)Men or women. The body belongs to the military. So no draft for men or women, ERA or no ERA.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)MustLoveBeagles
(11,635 posts)applegrove
(118,781 posts)DFW
(54,437 posts)This is an unexpected side-effect under the current employment situation. The volunteer military was always filled with young people who couldn't find jobs and were looking for some training they couldn't pay for on their own. Nowadays, it's less difficult for them to find that in the private sector without going through boot camp and basic training. It's inflationary, but you are correct: pay them better, treat them better, and they'll come back.
Caveat: they still must screen applicants and refuse psychotic right wing cultists. We do not need to be putting firearms in the hands of sociopaths and psychopaths.
uponit7771
(90,364 posts)... working aged Americans either dead from covid (including the overages) or retired.
The roaring twenties was roaring for a reason !!
former9thward
(32,082 posts)Not candidates for the military or the general workforce. The labor participation rate for working age males is down dramatically. It was about 88% in 1950 and now is down to about 62%.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LNS11300001
Mariana
(14,861 posts)Naturally, there's a much larger proportion of the male population that is retired now. That graph is for males 16 years old and older, yes? So it includes all of those retirees.
former9thward
(32,082 posts)Male life expectancy in 1950 was about the same as now. In 1950 white males could expect to live to about 79 or so.
https://www.seniorliving.org/history/1900-2000-changes-life-expectancy-united-states/
You are thinking of life expectancy at Birth. But life expectancy once you made it to adulthood/workforce age has not changed much in hundreds of years. Life expectancy at birth has increased over the years because of the reduction in childhood killer diseases and other issues. Once you made it to an adult you could expect a reasonably long life.
Labor participation rates do not include retirees. The are rates of the groups typically in the workforce.
ProfessorGAC
(65,180 posts)Apparently it's not as cut & dry as you think.
Every line in this gra0h trends upward, even for those already 50, 60, or 70.
It's data from England & Wales but it's likely that it has broader applicability.
former9thward
(32,082 posts)That was the entire point of the reply. Do you think it is the same?
ProfessorGAC
(65,180 posts)The data i linked differs from your contention that expectancy in adulthood hasn't changed in "hundreds of years".
When confronted with contradictory data, you changed the subject. That's weak.
Color me unsurprised.
former9thward
(32,082 posts)Color me unsurpassed. I said hasn't changed "much". Why did you leave that word out? I know why and so does anyone who reads the posts....
Mariana
(14,861 posts)former9thward
(32,082 posts)That fact has no meaning to the labor participation rate. They don't measure over 65.
BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)eligible for the military.
Sadly, that disease took the elderly, the morbidly obese, those with other underlying conditions,
walkingman
(7,667 posts)would want to put their life on the line to fight a politicians meaningless war.
Sky Jewels
(7,139 posts)die for corporate shareholder profits?! How un-American!
Response to walkingman (Reply #4)
WarGamer This message was self-deleted by its author.
dchill
(38,537 posts)WAY less training, same firepower.
MyMission
(1,850 posts)Which are part of cult 45's army.
Although we didn't want those folks in the US military anyway.
And many couldn't make the cut...too much training.
tazkcmo
(7,300 posts)All those militias and Meal Team 6 commandos have is small arms fire. No artillery, guided munitions or bombs of any kind. No medical, culinary or logistical support. No command and control, communications or night capability.
A Trump army isn't an army. It's a potluck.
Aristus
(66,462 posts)Black people and other minorities are being murdered with impunity by white cops. "Law-abiding gun-owners" are turning mass murder into the national pastime. And women no longer have legally-protected medical privacy.
Potential recruits are no doubt asking themselves: "What exactly is it we're supposed to be defending?"
cbabe
(3,549 posts)chowder66
(9,080 posts)roamer65
(36,747 posts)Especially when the Russo-Ukrainian War spreads and the specter of WW3 looms larger.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)be instituted. And, as you say, "... the specter of WW3 looms larger." And, it's difficult to say where domestic US is ending up with all the craziness in this country.
Response to roamer65 (Reply #9)
WarGamer This message was self-deleted by its author.
roamer65
(36,747 posts)Much like the failure of the League of Nations before WW2.
Response to roamer65 (Reply #31)
WarGamer This message was self-deleted by its author.
Emile
(22,923 posts)tell you any different.
former9thward
(32,082 posts)But that is not the main issue. They have a small pool of people to recruit from. Most (71%) of youth are not qualified because of obesity, mental illness or other physical issues.
https://recruiting.army.mil/pao/facts_figures/
applegrove
(118,781 posts)MAGA people already feel they have meaning and are in an army: their cult.
roamer65
(36,747 posts)former9thward
(32,082 posts)You can become a citizen if you serve for one year.
https://www.uscis.gov/military/naturalization-through-military-service#:~:text=One%20Year%20of%20Military%20Service,not%20apply%20or%20are%20reduced.
applegrove
(118,781 posts)Chainfire
(17,641 posts)I am not, but I do believe, that if I were a young woman, there is no way in hell that I would serve after the infamous court ruling, draft or no draft.
If they resorted to a draft to fill the ranks, it would be just as always, there are people who would be immune from serving due to the power and influence of their families. The only fair system would be mandatory and universal service. If you have fucking bone spurs, you could serve at a desk, but you would serve either in the service or in the jails.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)To me, the US of today is far from a perfect country and is skidding off the rails severely, especially with the new SCOTUS and 2022/2024 elections coming up.
NickB79
(19,270 posts)The obesity epidemic is reaching critical mass (no pun intended).
former9thward
(32,082 posts)71% of youth are not qualified for the military with obesity being the number one issue.
https://recruiting.army.mil/pao/facts_figures/
highplainsdem
(49,038 posts)roamer65
(36,747 posts)The kids know there is a larger war coming and they want no part of it, but eventually no one will be able to avoid it.
Response to applegrove (Original post)
WarGamer This message was self-deleted by its author.
al_liberal
(420 posts)Biden hollowed out our military. If we needed to go to war we dont have the troops. A former Navy Seal came up to me, big guy, with tears in his eyes, and asked me Sir are you going to fix our military?
Iggo
(47,566 posts)Pun totally intended.
Dysfunctional
(452 posts)After 2 years, E-5, $2,786 a month plus $2,010 a month BAH. No combat zone, just a nice desk job.
jmowreader
(50,562 posts)I spent two weeks working with Navy CTs and sonarmen. THOSE guys are impressive! A Navy CT won't just tell you there's a Russian Udaloy-class destroyer nine miles away and on a 242 azimuth, they'll tell you which one it is and if any of his radars aren't working properly. Their sonarmen are just as bad; they can tell you if their guy has picked up any extra dents in his hull.
patphil
(6,210 posts)Close a few bases, foreign and domestic, and stop trying to be the world's policemen.
Xolodno
(6,401 posts)...young people don't want to join the military? It's not like Ukraine, Yemen, Iran, North Korea, China/Taiwan, Venezuela, etc. could turn into a real hell hole.
Trump almost got us involved with World War 3 with Iran, but that turned out all right.
And when you have a bone spurs President, politicians like Bolton who are willing to send people to war, I'm sure their experience in the military tells them what they are doing. Oh wait.....
Jokes aside, I doubt they resort to a draft. It's too unpopular. A national service on the other hand, they might be able sell. Send young people to work in fire brigades in the national parks, forests, etc. would give you that feel good story, but, if your not connected, "sorry, those public service jobs are at capacity, but you can enlist instead for a term in the military".
sakabatou
(42,174 posts)Iggo
(47,566 posts)Oil it with money. Feed it with your babies.
keithbvadu2
(36,912 posts)Set up recruiting booths at MAGA rallies.
Seek out the patriotic children/grandchildren of the MAGA patriots.
.