Fewer Americans are considering careers in the military and branches are looking for solutions to recruiting

By Tess Terrible,

Published October 6, 2023 at 7:00 AM EDT

Military recruits raise their right hands as U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reads the oath of enlistment at Fort George G. Meade on July 05, 2023, in Fort Meade, Maryland. Austin attended the ceremony to administer the oath marking 50 years of the U.S. military being an all-volunteer service.

During the last fiscal year, the army alone missed their recruiting goal by 25%. All branches of the military are struggling to recruit new cadets.

With an all-volunteer service, the military relies on recruitment efforts to get more people to serve. But fewer Americans than ever are eligible to do so. And attracting the next generation of cadets has been a challenge.

Today, we talk about the military recruiting crisis. We will hear from Captain Benjamin Keffer, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command.

Later, we hear how some extremist groups are working to get veterans and others with tactical experience into their organizations.

GUESTS:

Dr. Nora Bensahel: Professor of the Practice at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Contributing Editor, War on the Rocks
Captain Benjamin Keffer: Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command
Sonner Kehrt: Investigative Reporter at the War Horse and Coast Guard Veteran

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