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Sunday, December 22nd, 2019

The Looming National Security Crisis: Young Americans Unable to Serve in the Military

Author:     Thomas Spoehr and Lieutenant General Bridget Handy, USA (Ret.)
Source:     The Heritage Foundation
Publication Date:     February 13, 2018
Link: The Looming National Security Crisis: Young Americans Unable to Serve in the Military
Stephan:   Reading the professional military literature -- Army Times, Seapower (I was formerly editor), Naval Institute Proceedings, and others -- I have begun to suspect there are growing issues with the American military, in all its branches. Given America's endless wars this is a trend with profound implications getting almost no attention in the mainstream media. It is also yet another report about the deteriorating health of Americans. This study, sent to me today by a friend who is a physician and former combat surgeon, although a year old is still pertinent, and encapsulates the personnel aspect of this trend. To download the full report: https://www.heritage.org/sites/default/files/2018-02/BG3282.pdf

KEY TAKEAWAYS

71 percent of young Americans between 17 and 24 are ineligible to serve in the military—that is 24 million of the 34 million people of that age group.

The military depends on a constant flow of volunteers each year; as the number of eligible Americans declines, it is increasingly difficult to meet military needs.

A manpower shortage in the United States Armed Forces directly compromises national security.

According to 2017 Pentagon data, 71 percent of young Americans between 17 and 24 are ineligible to serve in the United States military.1

Nolan Feeney, “Pentagon: 7 in 10 Youths Would Fail to Qualify for Military Service,” Time, June 2014, http://time.com/2938158/youth-fail-to-qualify-military-service/ (accessed January 4, 2018), and e-mail correspondence between the author and Jamie Lockhart, acting director of Mission: Readiness, on December 11, 2017.

Put another way: Over 24 million of the 34 million people of that age group cannot join the armed forces—even if they wanted to. This is an alarming situation which threatens the country’s fundamental national security. If only 29 percent of the nation’s young adults are even qualified to […]

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4 Comments

  1. John Alexander on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at 7:13 am

    What is new? We have known this for a decade or two. Was an Army Science Board issue when I was with them

  2. Rev. Dean on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at 3:23 pm

    When I was of that age group, Judges would give criminals the choice of being sent to prison for their felony charges or join the service (any service), and given a “free ride” to serve instead of prison. I joined voluntarily because the Army gave me a choice of deployment and I chose Germany because I knew it would be a life enhancing experience, which it was. And it was the only chance I ever had to go abroad to experience another culture.

  3. Will on Monday, December 23, 2019 at 9:10 am

    Well John what is new is the huge increase of fat, unhealthy Americans of all ages eating a highly processed, GMO McDonald’s diet fed to them from birth. Many know nothing else and may not care so long as they have the latest smart phone besides how many want to serve in the imperial legions?

    Our country’s organization and priorities are so screwed up it is just as well that they can’t find adequate manpower to manage the empire. Let it all come down so we Americans can reevaluate, reconsider, rebuild and renew our home. Too much wealth and power for too long is corrupting to the folk. We really believe we are superior to most others. Ask the Russians how it has worked for them over their many centuries of empire?

    • Will on Monday, December 23, 2019 at 9:13 am

      Just to add I was an overweight USAF missile tech 69-73 protecting the nation against the commies.