Hints that the armed services might soon face a problem keeping their ranks full began quietly, with officials spending the last decade warning that a dwindling slice of the American public could serve.
Only about one-quarter of young Americans are even eligible for service these days, a shrinking pool limited by an increasing number of potential recruits who are overweight or are screened out due to minor criminal infractions, including the use of recreational drugs such as marijuana.
But what had been a slow-moving trend is reaching crisis levels, as a highly competitive job market converges with a mass of troops leaving as the coronavirus pandemic subsides, alarming military planners.
They continue to erode the careerist benefits – I spent almost 30 in but wouldn’t go in with todays lack of long-term benefits….
BINGO
Military AND civilian leadership were warned of the outlook in future years – yet ignored the potential. The need was to save money.
Doesn’t that always fail?
Nobody wants to be in under a WOKE Democrat Fake COUP Administration !!!!! There you are
Not taking orders from the WOKE Joke commanders under BIDEN !!!!! Hell No
My nephew, an E6 Navy nuclear plumber with 7 years in, was offered $80K to do another four years. He said thanks, but no thanks.
Who in their right mind, would want to serve in today’s military under a fake president who stole the election?