Military branches dealing with lows in recruitment, challenges in attracting young people

Military leaders at the Pentagon said it ended the 2023 fiscal year on a sour note for military recruiting.

Recruitment goals were short by tens of thousands of new enlisted troops.

We're told it was one of the toughest recruitment years for the military since the inception of the all-volunteer force.

WRAL News talked with the Army's former recruitment commander to see what's being done to turn the numbers around.

It has been a struggle for military services to get young folks to sign up. A trickle of potential service members is making their way into recruiting stations across the country, but it's just a trickle.

Lt. General Kevin Vereen spent four years in charge of the US Army Recruiting Command in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He said there are several things pulling young people away from military service.

"That's the challenge in this day and age," said Vereen. "A lot of our young kids are looking for the immediate return, meaning that they want to be very successful. They want to be successful fast."

Vereen said the Army started the future soldier's prep course to try and turn the numbers around. The course is designed to help young people who are not physically fit get in shape to join the Army.

"We're not lowering our standards," Vereen said. "We're getting them to the level that the army requires them to be able to perform successfully, both academically and physically."

The latest numbers show about one percent of Americans volunteer for military service.

With recruitment numbers at an all-time low, the big question lingers - is America headed back to a military draft system?

"I do not think we're ready for a draft," Vereen said. "I think there are enough wonderful, talented men and women who want to serve."

Recruiters are still trying to convince young folks that serving in the military is not only good for them, but good for the country.