Army Secretary Christine Wormuth Tours Chicago to Boost Recruitment Efforts

Army Secretary Christine Wormuth made a recent trip to Chicago to meet with students, school leaders, and college heads to discuss the challenges faced by the Army's recruitment efforts. The trip came on the heels of the Army's worst recruiting year in recent history, when it fell 25% short of its 60,000 enlistment goal. Wormuth heard a litany of challenges from recruiters, including difficulty gaining access to high schools, competition with colleges, and a lack of public knowledge about the jobs and opportunities that military service can provide.

Key Takeaways:

• The Army fell 25% short of its 60,000 enlistment goal in the recent recruiting year, marking the worst performance in recent history.
• 23% of young people can meet the military's fitness, educational, and moral requirements, with many disqualified for reasons ranging from medical issues to criminal records and tattoos.
• Young people don't see the Army as a prime career choice, often due to fear of death or injury, stress of military life, and putting their lives on hold.
• School access is a significant hurdle for Army recruiters, who face resistance from teachers' unions and school board members who don't see the value in offering students the military as a career option.
• The Army is pinning hopes on a new advertising campaign that will launch this week, featuring the tried and true slogan "Be all you that can be."
• Other challenges facing the Army include confusing Army websites, limited social media, and a general lack of public knowledge about the jobs and opportunities that military service can provide.
• Wormuth emphasized that the Army should not be viewed as a competitor for young people, but rather as a partner that can offer a wide array of career choices and benefits.
• Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, head of Army Recruiting Command, noted that new incentive programs are already working to boost enlistment numbers.

Statistics:

• 25% below target: The Army's shortfall in the recent recruiting year.
• 23%: The percentage of young people who can meet the military's fitness, educational, and moral requirements.
• 60,000: The Army's enlistment goal for recent years.
• 2 years: The duration of the COVID-19 pandemic that hampered recruiters' access to public events and schools.
• 23%: The proportion of negative mentions of the military or the Army online for every one positive mention.

Sources:

• [Associated Press, "Army Secretary Seeks to Boost Recruitment Efforts in Chicago"]