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The Inquiry: Why is the US Army struggling to recruit new soldiers?

Why is the US Army struggling to recruit new soldiers?

11/01/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - The Inquiry, Why is the US Army struggling to recruit new soldiers?

The US Army faces challenges enlisting enough new troops.

For the past two years the US Army has failed to achieve its target for new recruits. What challenges does it face attracting new soldiers?

In 1973 America ended a draft that had been in effect since before it entered the second World War, and for the last fifty years the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines have been an all-volunteer military.

But, recently, of the four major branches which make up the US armed services, only the Marines have achieved their target for new recruits. And the biggest force, the Army, has been struggling most of all. In the past two years its missed its recruiting target by several thousand. 

In this edition of the Inquiry, Sandra Kanthal looks at the myriad reasons the American Army is failing to enlist enough new soldiers, and why this may affect what impact it can have on global security.

Guests:
Nora Bensahel – Professor of the Practice at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University  
Mark Cancian -  Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies 
Peter Feaver – Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, Duke University and author of Thanks For Your Service: The Causes and Consequences of Public Confidence in the US Military  
Beth Asch – Senior Economist, The Rand Corporation

Production Team:
Presenter: Sandra Kanthal
Producer: Sandra Kanthal
Editor: Tara McDermott
Technical Producer: James Beard
Production Co-ordinator: Tim Fernley

Image Credit: Bo Zaunders\Getty

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Why is the US Army struggling to recruit new soldiers?

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