In 1973, the draft was abolished and replaced by an all-volunteer military and, for the past 46 years, all of the services have relied on recruits signing up to sustain their enlisted ranks. The success of any volunteer military begins with recruiting. It’s the engine that drives it and makes the difference between an armed force that is strong and viable or one that is degraded where military readiness is threatened and national defense is compromised.


According to a new report by CNA* commissioned by the Department of Defense, the current environmental factors impacting recruiting pose serious challenges to the AVF. Among them:
· A smaller pool of youth qualified to serve: a little more than 1/4 of the 35 million 17 to 24-year-olds who are eligible to serve could do so without a waiver. Medical issues, including obesity, are the largest disqualifying factor.
· An economy with low youth unemployment
· Risks of service due to military engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other fronts adversely affect the recruiting effort
· Changing culture along with feeling disconnected from and lower awareness of the military among 17 to 24-year-olds.
The report looks at these and other issues that need to be addressed if we’re going to have a strong volunteer military. It examines where the weaknesses are in the system and recommends what must be done to shore them up.