Why Is Gen Z Rejecting the U.S. Military?

The U.S. military faced a historic recruitment crisis in 2022, failing to meet goals for enlisting new soldiers by a wide margin. Why are so many young people saying no to military service?

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**Is the U.S. military facing a recruitment crisis?
All branches of the U.S. military except for the Marine Corps failed to meet their recruiting goals for new soldiers in 2022, with the Army having the biggest shortfall (they missed their target by 15,000). This is reported to be the worst recruiting crisis since 1973, the height of the Vietnam War.

**Why is Gen Z rejecting the U.S. military?
More than 20% of people between the ages of 18 - 25 failed to meet eligibility requirements, and only 9% of people in this age group even report interest in joining the military. Most experts agree that the crisis is caused by competition from other jobs that offer good pay and benefits, and Gen Z’s lack of trust in the military as an institution. Much of that lack of trust is caused by greater access to information about sexual assault, racism, homophobia, and a growing lack of interest in the military lifestyle.

**How does the U.S. military recruit new enlists?
For most of U.S. history, the military has relied on mandatory conscription (aka, the “draft”) every time there has been a major war. But youth protests against the Draft reached a peak during the Vietnam War, leading to the end of the draft in 1973. Since then, the military has relied upon an all-voluntary force - forcing them to increase recruiting efforts. Since the 1970s, the military has increased its spending each year on ads and recruiters. Many of these recruiters visit high school and college campuses. More recently, the military has focused its marketing efforts on social media influencers and e-games to reach more young people.

**What is the JROTC?
The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) calls itself a “character development and citizenship program for youth,” not a military recruiter. The National Defense Act of 1916 established organized JROTC programs at public and private educational institutions. In 1964, Congress expanded the program to all military services and changed from active duty to shared support from the services and schools. But the JROTC creates a direct pipeline for enlistment, and their programs are especially prevalent in low-income school districts that serve students of color - and recent reports show that students are often enlisted in JROTC without their express consent.

SELECTED SOURCES

Army misses recruiting goal by 15,000 soldiers (Army Times, Oct. 2022)

Fall 2021 Propensity Update (U.S. Department of Defense)

Military Esports: How Gaming Is Changing Recruitment & Morale (U.S. Department of Defense, Dec. 2022)

How 2020 is Impacting Gen Z's Worldview (Morning Consult, June 2020)

Demographics of the U.S. Military (Council on Foreign Relations, Jul. 2020)

Thousands of Teens Are Being Pushed Into Military’s Junior R.O.T.C. (New York Times, Dec. 2022)

Military Recruitment Provisions Under the No Child Left Behind Act: A Legal Analysis (Congressional Research Service, Jan. 2009)

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict (United Nations, May 2020)

CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - History of military recruiting in the U.S.
01:58 - U.S. military recruiting tactics today
03:00 - Why Gen Z is rejecting the U.S. military
04:13 - Racism within U.S. military
05:00 - What is the JROTC?
06:24 - Benefits of joining the military
07:17 - Ethics of recruiting minors into the military
07:25 - No Child Left Behind Act and student data collection
07:35 - UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
09:18 - Alternatives to military service
10:10 - U.S. military recruitment goals 2023

#military #militarylife #recruiting

[AboveTheNoise]

What do you think about the U.S. military’s recruiting tactics, especially for high school students? Let us know in the comments below!

[johnforrester-ruqr]

Don't die for a country that doesn't care about you.

[bradr]

I think it's rediculous how we have that big of a budget yet many active duty soldiers are having trouble putting food on the table.

[Mothman]

I realized when I was 16 that the rich schools didn't have military recruiters. They had college recruiters. I saw that there was a class that died in wars and a class that profited from them. I wanted no part in it

[BornotB-ijxk]

"Imma keep it real with you US Military, I'm not fucking dying for an Oil company"

[aprildawnsunshine]

It's almost like Gen Z wants our military to behave better out in the world and treat it's members better when they get home. Shocking ain't it?

[fuccbui]

Is this a question? Young people woke up and realized that you’re just a glorified pawn in the army. They will squeeze you dry and then spit you out. The sheer number of vets I’ve seen left by the wayside after their services who struggled with so many issues was astounding.

[johnathanbryan]

No one wants to work 12-14hour days then get told their crippling back and knee injuries aren't service related

[summerboyce]

Father served 3 tours in Vietnam. He had to use the freedom of information act to even prove he was there after his very public draft while he was in the hospital for a crash. After 15 years of fighting he finally got the benefits he was owed after serving. Listened to him and his surviving friends talk about how the US government called agent orange safe enough to eat. While he was having black objects removed from his skin every year due to his exposure. Not sure why I would avoid the military.

[governmnt]

You forgot to mention that we as kids saw us invade Iraq for frivolous reasons, and grew up seeing the results.

[Solitas]

I love our country, but who wants to fight to defend a corrupt plutocracy?

[belatoth]

People realize there is a big difference between fighting to defend your freedom and homeland and fighting to take someone else's freedom and homeland.

[juliovaldes]

I’m a Army vet.. what they don’t tell you is that the retention rate is also down by a lot and main reason for this is because the military ( most branches ) take soldiers for granted once you are in. They treat you like you are easily replaceable and do not respect your work/life balance what’s so ever. If you are lucky you might fall in a rare unit where there’s a higher up ( sgt major or a LT ) in your unit that isn’t totally toxic and might let you off in a reasonable time but those are hard to find. I use to wake up at 4:30 am be at first formation by 5:30 am and then work till 6 pm for the exact same amount of money every 2 weeks. It’s a shit way to live, the military is very toxic and do not appreciate their new soldiers and jr leaders, sooo they leave after their first contract. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[magikclaw]

My grandfather served before Vietnam in West Germany. I know of only one time he cried, and that was on 9/11. When he found out I was thinking of joining, he begged me not to and got teary eyed. I heeded his advice.

[stuffthings]

1. No one wants to die in war for political gain (Iraq)

2. There hasnt been a major war for decades so theres no need to enlist.

[coldblizzard]

In simple terms: IT AINT WORTH IT. We’ve seen how they come back from it. But not only that, how they’re treated. Why tf would I give my life to people who don’t care? And for a government who doesn’t care. I’ve seen them around, veterans walking the streets in pure homelessness. And nobody helps either. Why would I put myself through that?

[anthonycastro]

I was 17 when I walked into a recruiting station to join the Air Force. I was still a kid. I wanted a medical job and they said it would be available but when I went to MEPS they said none were available. Instead the officer in charge of jobs showed me a video of people who exploded bombs for a living. Remember, I was seventeen. I felt cornered and said yes too it. My parents were devastated.Several months later and I decided wisely not to go through with the recruitment. The recruiter threatened jail and we set up a meeting. My dad defended me and said I was still a minor under their care. It all seemed very entrapping and I was too young to understand it. I went to University instead and got my B.A.. All without risking my life. That is the thing about the military, your life is always at risk once you sign. But they will always have a mask of toughness to hide behind that fact. Your essential meat for the weapons industries.

[dramonmaster]

Considering how many stories I have seen about this country failing it's Vets, I can't say I am surprised.

[felixgijon]

Why?: A rich man's war, but a poor man's fight.

[Benjamin.burrito]

Bruh really said “latinx” that’s crazy.