How civics education can help solve the military recruitment crisis

For the second year in a row, every branch of the U.S. military, except the Marine and Space Corps, missed its recruiting target. To put this crisis into context, the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force ended 2023 with a recruitment shortfall of 41,000. There has not been a more difficult recruitment environment since the end of the draft in 1973.

At the same time our volunteer force faces a reluctance of people to enlist, the U.S. faces its most perilous moment since the end of the Cold War because of the tripartite threat of China, Russia, and Iran. Given the obvious challenges confronting our country, policymakers must urgently ask themselves, “Why are so many young Americans refusing to serve at the time when our country needs them most?”