In April of 2022, recruitment bonuses for U.S. military members reached an all-time high. The Army and Navy are both offering $50,000 enlistment bonuses! If that doesn’t draw new recruits, then it’s hard to imagine what will.
Military recruitment numbers have been on the decline for a while. It’s necessary for us to determine what’s driving this trend and how to reverse it. Otherwise, we could see a military recruitment crisis very soon.
Read on to learn more about military recruitment in 2022 and beyond.
U.S. Military Recruiting Statistics
Are you keeping up with the latest military news, trends, and statistics? If not, then you might not be aware of a serious problem facing the armed services. Right now, military recruiting statistics are looking pretty shabby.
Here’s how it breaks down:
- U.S. Navy recruiting in 2021: 33,559
- U.S. Army recruiting in 2021: 57,606
- Army National Guard: 42,957
While these numbers might look promising, they’ve been falling in recent years. Recruitment numbers actually peaked during WWII. At the time, 12 million active duty military personnel helped save the globe.
Since then, though, military numbers have been on the decline.
Why Are Enlistment Numbers So Low?
Clearly, recruiters are having a tough time, but why? For one reason, it makes sense that recruitment numbers peaked during WWII. At the time, patriotism was at an all time high. Americans wanted to help save the world.
Since that time, there hasn’t been such a threat as dictator Hitler. The world has yet to see a comparable evil emerge, so the drive to join the military has dampened a bit.
Aside from that, the younger generation has different values than in the past. Past generations were more likely to view service as honorable and respectable. These days, it’s more of a means to an end.
With that, very few younger people are even interested in military service.
What’s more, very few younger people are eligible to serve. Common barriers are having a criminal record, not having a high school diploma, or being obese.
Are We Facing a Military Recruitment Crisis?
So, are we facing a military recruitment crisis? Statistics show that most branches of the military continue to meet their goals. Keep in mind, though, that those goals are getting smaller.
Right now, the perfect storm for a crisis exists, but it hasn’t started raining, yet.
It’s time to start grabbing those umbrellas and creating new strategies to recruit. Otherwise, we will have an issue soon.
Military Recruitment in 2022 and Beyond
So, are we facing a military recruitment crisis? Yes and no. All military branches are struggling to recruit. The main reason why is because so many younger Americans are ineligible.
Among the people who are eligible to enlist, many are choosing different options.
If you’re currently considering joining the military, then now is the right time to do it! Sign on bonuses are high, and new recruits are very much needed. Check out the various types of military careers and consider your options.