Military recruiting woes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad retired as a Lt Gen and we never knew his political leanings until after he retired - not even my mother. He said he served the president no matter who it was and never even voted while active duty.

I’ve noticed that the current young people are struggling more with this idea and with authority in general. Between that and the physical fitness issue, I’m not surprised it’s harder to find enough people to join now.

But yes, there have been other times that pilots were given bonuses to stay or not allowed to retire. Not news.

This is just insane. You should vote for the person who's going to be your boss, as well as for political issues that shape your country (and I'm former military).

No, it’s smart if your goal is senior leadership. Zero optics of political influence. Level head. You serve the president regardless of who that person is.

If you’re just going to enlist for a few years, then it doesn’t matter as much.

There’s a problem with how tribal politics have become and if you think it’s not affecting the military, you are part of the problem.

Really? Sharing who you vote for is inappropriate--but, a senior leader thinking he should not vote is not someone I'd want in leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad retired as a Lt Gen and we never knew his political leanings until after he retired - not even my mother. He said he served the president no matter who it was and never even voted while active duty.

I’ve noticed that the current young people are struggling more with this idea and with authority in general. Between that and the physical fitness issue, I’m not surprised it’s harder to find enough people to join now.

But yes, there have been other times that pilots were given bonuses to stay or not allowed to retire. Not news.

This is just insane. You should vote for the person who's going to be your boss, as well as for political issues that shape your country (and I'm former military).

No, it’s smart if your goal is senior leadership. Zero optics of political influence. Level head. You serve the president regardless of who that person is.

If you’re just going to enlist for a few years, then it doesn’t matter as much.

There’s a problem with how tribal politics have become and if you think it’s not affecting the military, you are part of the problem.

Really? Sharing who you vote for is inappropriate--but, a senior leader thinking he should not vote is not someone I'd want in leadership.

It’s common in the higher ranks. You can google it.

Not sure what kind of work you’re in but the military is different in many ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband thinks that if some form of military service was mandatory, there wouldn’t some many lost males.

+1
Former military here-I've seen lots of service members find their way in the military. It can provide purpose, structure, discipline, teamwork, teach physical fitness, and provide educational opportunities such as tuition assistance, GI Bill, etc.

In my experience it is the career military folks that least desire mandatory service. They would have to deal with more problems.

Our country is not just about them. Most countries have mandatory service. It could be in related areas as well. It's silly the US doesn't do this. 1 year would be enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband thinks that if some form of military service was mandatory, there wouldn’t some many lost males.

+1
Former military here-I've seen lots of service members find their way in the military. It can provide purpose, structure, discipline, teamwork, teach physical fitness, and provide educational opportunities such as tuition assistance, GI Bill, etc.

In my experience it is the career military folks that least desire mandatory service. They would have to deal with more problems.

Our country is not just about them. Most countries have mandatory service. It could be in related areas as well. It's silly the US doesn't do this. 1 year would be enough.

I don’t want crappy, lazy soldiers who don’t want to be there & will be kicked out anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine the moral panic at Maret or Sidwell if a Marine recruiter showed up on campus.

Burning group chats!

My father went to Exeter and graduated from Harvard. He retired as a Colonel and had another career with the DOD and later as a consultant. One of his other Harvard friends retired as a Colonel. My brother served in the Air Force with a Harvard PhD. He left as a Captain before age 30.
You are really ignorant about the military, aren't you?

Adult Military kid here. The military is small enough I could call my Col father up and probably figure out who your father is. Also not my experience re Harvard--I spent a lot of time in Cambridge. It is not a rich recruiting ground even after NROTC was invited back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Imagine the moral panic at Maret or Sidwell if a Marine recruiter showed up on campus.

Burning group chats!

My father went to Exeter and graduated from Harvard. He retired as a Colonel and had another career with the DOD and later as a consultant. One of his other Harvard friends retired as a Colonel. My brother served in the Air Force with a Harvard PhD. He left as a Captain before age 30.
You are really ignorant about the military, aren't you?

Adult Military kid here. The military is small enough I could call my Col father up and probably figure out who your father is. Also not my experience re Harvard--I spent a lot of time in Cambridge. It is not a rich recruiting ground even after NROTC was invited back.

Officers go to Harvard graduate programs every year. Harvard also has ROTC. Granted, there are fewer applicants, but it’s there.

Officers in the past were typically from wealthier families because only wealthy people went to college. So it’s not unusual at all when you’re talking about older officers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband thinks that if some form of military service was mandatory, there wouldn’t some many lost males.

Korea begs to differ.

[Anonymous]

How does this help with recruitment?

[Anonymous]

Aside from my being repulsed by wokeism, what kind of deal is my teen likely to get offered by armed forces if college options aren’t great and he wants to enlist?

He’s a smart kid, we’re just spread too thin to help him much academically so he’s getting As and Bs and won’t get into a top state, and we don’t have much money. He’s also physically fit and a strong swimmer and super extroverted among his peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aside from my being repulsed by wokeism, what kind of deal is my teen likely to get offered by armed forces if college options aren’t great and he wants to enlist?

He’s a smart kid, we’re just spread too thin to help him much academically so he’s getting As and Bs and won’t get into a top state, and we don’t have much money. He’s also physically fit and a strong swimmer and super extroverted among his peers.

Option 1: Rotc scholarship pays tuition, books, and stipend. Get pay for summer training, too. Committment is (I think)five years active duty or eight years Reserves.
Option 2: National guard and Reserves have some programs similar to this where you are paid for weekend training and can participate in ROTC to some extent. Not sure of the details on this.
Option 3: Enlist. Get job training in the service and oppotunity to go to college on GI Bill or some similar program.

There are other opportunities here, as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does this help with recruitment?

OMG love this!!!!! You go gurl!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aside from my being repulsed by wokeism, what kind of deal is my teen likely to get offered by armed forces if college options aren’t great and he wants to enlist?

He’s a smart kid, we’re just spread too thin to help him much academically so he’s getting As and Bs and won’t get into a top state, and we don’t have much money. He’s also physically fit and a strong swimmer and super extroverted among his peers.

ROTC is best option for your kid imo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband thinks that if some form of military service was mandatory, there wouldn’t some many lost males.

Korea begs to differ.

IMO, Korea is a different animal. There just aren't as many opportunities in Korea, period. And if you don't go to one of the three top universities, you can't get a high paying job.

I'm Korean American. My father served in Korea. My brother served in the US military voluntarily after HS. Parents weren't too happy about that. But, he got a GI bill and used it help pay for a public ivy. The military was the best thing for him, and not only because of the GI bill. It shaped him up and instilled discipline. He learned a skill. He was pretty immature when he left HS, but he came back super disciplined.

I agree with the PP.. some kids really need a lot more structure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Southern boys got the message they aren’t wanted and they aren’t signing up.

Good riddance!!!!

It’s about time these racist rednecks didn’t have a refuge in the military. They should’ve been purged out long ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Southern boys got the message they aren’t wanted and they aren’t signing up.

Good riddance!!!!

It’s about time these racist rednecks didn’t have a refuge in the military. They should’ve been purged out long ago.

Wow. What a totally bigoted statement. And, you are calling "southern boys" racist?
Are you aware that a good number of those "southern boys" are people of color????