How Wokeness has killed Military Recruiting: Thanks Obama…

Editor’s Note. This article accidentally posted under “Mike Ford” as the byline. We regret the error, have made changes and the Editor has done a set of pushups in atonement.

Ed.

The U.S. military is currently grappling with one of the most significant recruitment challenges since 2005, a period that prompted Congress to issue a stern warning to rectify recruitment shortfalls or risk compromising the all-volunteer force, potentially leading to the reintroduction of the draft. In a bid to prevent such a scenario, the Army is actively engaged in crisis-mode initiatives to attract new recruits. However, a prevailing issue arises from a concerning statistic: less than 1% of the population today expresses a belief that the country is worth fighting for.

The decline in enthusiasm for military service correlates with shifting societal perceptions and evolving perspectives on patriotism and national service. The military’s recent forays into cultural “woke” marketing campaigns failed to adapt to the traditional attitudes. Instead they have polarized opinions among segments of the population. These shifts have, in part, alienated a core base of traditionally supportive individuals: patriots who identify as white, embrace hunting, fishing, gun ownership, and are NASCAR fans. That’s the core market segment for targeted Army recruiting, or used to be.  Those are the main group of 17-24 year olds who actually enlist.

Changes within the military leadership under President Obama gutted the Army of General Officers with traditional conservative values. These leadership changes led to the modern day disconnect between the military and its base. They perceive a divergence from traditional values and a dilution of focus on military readiness and effectiveness due to what they deem as politicization or excessive social engagement (Wokeness).

This departure from more conventional military discourse has generated discontent among certain groups, creating an apparent rift between segments of the population and the armed forces. The Army went the same way as Bud Light. This concern is not only about recruitment numbers but also about the overall effectiveness of the military in the face of evolving societal attitudes and internal disagreements.

The challenge ahead for the military involves regaining trust and admitting failure in an attempt to adopt an ideology of Wokeness. However, it’s not certain the Army can maintain its constitutional responsibility of readiness, and effectiveness to win our Wars.  How can the armed forces bridge the gap, regain trust, and ensure its relevance without compromising its core mission and effectiveness?  Have these failures made us incapable of winning the next war?  Our enemies are laughing and waiting to see what we do. 

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