The Army's Reputation Keeps Young People From Enlisting

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The U.S. will still have over 400,000 soldiers if it misses its recruiting mark this year. The Army has to be prepared for contingencies such as the war in Russia and Ukraine. Because of a closed hiring system, we can't laterally bring in good leadership 20 years down the road from a different career path.

The US military faces its worst recruiting crisis since the draft ended in 1973. Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth — aware of the military’s reputation of forever wars, veteran suicide, and sexual assault — is working to convince a new generation to enlist anyway.

This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Paul Robert Mounsey, and hosted by Noel King.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

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