OPINION:
Fifty years ago, then-Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird announced the U.S. military would, in the future, fill its ranks exclusively with volunteers rather than with draftees. The all-volunteer force was created, and conscription had come to an end.
The all-volunteer military has worked for our country. There have been some rough periods through both peace and war, but for the most part, it has proved resilient — up until now.
To say the all-volunteer force has hit a rough spot would be an understatement. A better characterization would be that recruiting for the military services has become a dire situation. Despite significant bonuses, eased enlistment requirements and the creation of programs to help potential recruits qualify academically and physically before even entering boot camp, the only military services that met recruiting goals this past year are the Marine Corps and the Space Force. In fact, the services have struggled for the past couple of years to meet recruiting goals.
Part of the challenge in meeting our recruiting goals is interest in and eligibility for military service among young people. In addition to 77% of young Americans being ineligible to serve without a waiver for being overweight or having a history of drug use or mental or physical health issues, the propensity to serve has also dropped precipitously. Only 9% of those who are 16 to 21 years old are willing to serve.
In short, the nation is struggling to recruit and retain the force we need to defend our country and support our allies when called upon.
To turn this around, the services have raised the enlistment age, implemented new advertising campaigns, increased the use of social media and, in the Army’s case, created a new structure for its recruiting command.
There is another tool in the toolkit that can help the services meet the recruiting challenge, and that tool should be called upon immediately: the veterans who have served this country in uniform.
Those of us who have served have wonderful experiences and stories to tell how our military service has shaped our lives. Each of us who has served or is serving can tout the professional and leadership skills we’ve developed, the friendships we’ve built, the travel opportunities we’ve enjoyed, the educational opportunities we’ve been provided, and the health benefits the military provides for its members and their families.
Reversing the recruiting situation is clearly a challenge. But who better to tell the military’s story than those who have served and have benefited from all that the military has provided them? Quite simply, the military offers a rewarding experience — and it does not have to be a decades-long commitment. A four-year enlistment will suffice. Let the experience speak for itself. The opportunities are unmatched.
The services provide some extraordinary training opportunities. Be it repairing aircraft or shipboard power plants or being an air traffic controller or information technology professional, there is an opportunity to receive some expensive training and experiences that can be parlayed into a civilian career later.
There is a good chance that once these young people develop a camaraderie with their new peers, experience the mentorship and leadership they are provided and see their professional skills develop, some may choose to remain in the service.
I enlisted in the Navy when we had conscription. I did not see myself remaining for a career, not to mention wanting to earn an officer’s commission. But it didn’t take long for me to be the recipient of some great leaders — both officers and enlisted personnel — who cared about my personal growth, training and overall well-being. They motivated me to seek a commission and to replicate the kind of leadership and skills I saw in them.
Thirty-one years after my mom and dad put me on the bus to recruit training, I retired from the Navy — rich in friendships, experiences and purpose I never imagined when I got on that bus. My experiences gave my life purpose and direction, along with a deep sense of pride in my country and my Navy.
Those who have worn the uniform have the opportunity to tell the positive side of military service in order to keep the all-volunteer force strong and successful. Those of us who experienced a conscripted military — especially those of us who had leadership responsibilities — know the problems and challenges that period brought. Those problems are the last thing this country and our military need.
We need only look at how Russian conscripts have performed in Ukraine to be reminded of what happens with a conscription military.
To prevent that from happening, veterans need to find ways to reach out to our young people — be influencers — and be advocates for the benefits of military service. In order to recruit and retain the high-quality force needed to protect our nation, we must recognize that military service is a continuum, including those who serve today, those who have served in the past and those who will serve in the future.
The Military Officers Association of America, a nonprofit advocacy organization, sees its leadership and support for the all-volunteer force as one of its most sacred obligations. Its motto, “Never Stop Serving,” is a mindset found across its membership. Protecting the all-volunteer force is part of the organization’s strategic plan.
Accordingly, those of us who have served have an opportunity to have a role in attracting the next generation of military members. We must strive to tell the positive side of military service so that future generations will continue the 50-year legacy of success the all-volunteer force has enjoyed.
• Retired Rear Adm. Tom Jurkowsky served on active duty for 31 years, entering the Navy as an enlisted sailor. He serves on the board of the Military Officers Association of America, an advocacy organization that supports those who serve and those who have served, along with their families. He is the author of “The Secret Sauce for Organizational Success: Communications and Leadership on the Same Page.”
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