The Army missed its recruiting goal by 15,000 last fiscal year. Only 23% of young Americans are qualified for military service according to a Pentagon study. Obesity and drug use can also be disqualifying factors in the recruitment process. The services could decide that they want fewer than Congress sets a cap.
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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