Everyone has an opinion. Me included. The propensity to enlist is service specific. What draws young men and women to each service differs. “ Joining the military” is too broad. Each service has an image that must be reinforced.
1. Losing War after War is not good for trust, faith and confidence.
2. Modern cultural values espoused by the elite are not shared by those with a propensity to enlist. The young women do not want to wear men’s uniforms and fear assignment to the combat arms.
3. Sex is an iceberg. How many parents want to entrust their kids to an institution that harps incessantly on sexual harassment, sexual assault, fraternization, homosexuality, transgenderism, same sex marriage and champions unwed teenage mothers. Many traditional conservatives Americans view the military as perverse - more so than it actually is.
4. Physical standards should vary by service. Too many young people are disqualified for physical histories that are OBE. Many are disqualified for bogus mental health treatment from their past like ADD.
*************************************
US Marines Specific:
1. Focus on Spartan, Stoic, Elite and tough. Nock off pandering like “ civilian Marines” and “ Honorary Marines”.
2. Aim for athletes and run intramural athletics and interservice athletics at a high level. Every Marine an infantryman, an athlete and a scholar. A professional looking PT uniform would be a minimal start. Shooting is sport, tennis is a sport, competitive swimming is a sport, competitive golf is sport. So is football, baseball, boxing, wrestling, track and field, soccer….
3. Treat Marines like adults. Mission type orders in every aspect of being a Marine 24/7.
4. Insure there is a full GI Bill, without expiration and later transferability.
5. Change the paradigm from “recruiting” to “selecting”.
6. When former and retired Marines do not recommend enlistment investigate that thoroughly. What about their service led them to not recommend? I am sad to say we would find lack of trust, leaders who were condescending a$$holes, too much chickencrap and endless make work environments. Stop pretending that male and female Marines are interchangeable in every billet. No one believes that. Lies senior leaders tell are seen through by 18 year olds.
To understand recruiting shortfalls review the entire institution. The problem is not Marine Recruiting. The problem is the Marine Corps.
Double down on that concept for the USAF, USN and USA.
One of our great, currently serving SgtMaj's, SgtMaj Wilson (currently of II MEF, I believe) said it best:
Our recruiting commercials of the 90's and 2000's were some of the most effective, because they personified why young men and women want to be Marines.
They want to scale difficult heights and kill dragons.
If we can continue to attract young people who want to kill dragons, we will continue to have the force that we have been accustomed to throughout history.
My take: If we adjust a recruiting model to attract people who want jobs, college, or lifestyle choices, we might no longer attract the youngsters who want to kill dragons. This threatens to fundamentally change our force.
I once introduced a highly capable cyber team of NCOs to the ACMC. I made a point to ask them what their background was, for his benefit. "Taco Bell." "7-Eleven." and the like were the unanimous responses.
The existential question for MCRC: If our Marines are the pride of the joint force, for their ability to take action, get things done, and accomplish any mission....How did they get that way?
I doubt there any single reason why the services are struggling to recruit and retain the numbers of fighting men and women the nation requires. Compass Points has potentially identified some of them. A recent article in The Federalist by Elaine Donnelly (“If Diversity is Our Strength, why is Our Military so Weak”) proffered another opinion, which is just that - - her opinion. But given the importance of this issue (recruiting), all opinions - - no matter how contentious - - deserve at least a cursory hearing. See the article at: https://thefederalist.com/2024/03/29/if-diversity-is-our-strength-why-is-our-military-so-weak/
While politicians, bureaucrats, and the uniformed military may agree or disagree on the root causes of the nation’s military recruiting woes, I believe we can all agree that recruiting is a national security issue. We have to identify and fix the problem(s) before it’s late.
I will be totally honest. When I was selected for Warrant Officer, I was also in possession of a pre-screening package to become a recruiter. When I was selected, I took that package to the 1stSgt, dropped it on his desk and said "I don't think I will be needing this anymore 1stSgt!" He looked down at it, looked up at me and told me to "Get the hell out of my office SSgt!"
I have known many folks that were terminal SSgt's because of recruiting. And that was 25 yrs ago. In todays climate, I can't imagine the pressure those recruiting Marines are under, how many divorces are taking place, the unbelievably long hours, the doors slammed in faces, dealing with high school kids.
It is a thankless job and it has to be done, but for many in the fleet in receipt of recruiting screening paperwork, it seems like a death sentence. Many, such as myself, seriously consider leaving the Corps instead of accepting those orders. All have heard the stories of failing to make mission and getting bad paperwork. As was told me...it is hero one month, scum of the earth the next.
Spot on! I sat on two enlisted promotion boards, E6 and E8-E9 boards. I can tell you first hand that my opinion of recruiters changed. I saw one too many outstanding Marines hitting their terminal rank because of bad papers received while on recruiting duty. I read too many OMPF on Marines who were recruiters where they were the best at Recruiting Sub Station XX but went to the bottom at Recruiting Sub Station YY.
Recruiting is an exceedingly difficult job, and it’s made that much more difficult when our country is polarized and our youths are indoctrinated to hate their history.
I would further add, the active duty Marines are shooting themselves in the foot by dismissing veterans as “has been’s” or when they throw the term “this isn’t your Corps anymore,” when we engage the on social media in relations to the FD2030 BS that is being foisted on Corps and Country. I for one am not pushing the young people I know to join based on the above and based on what we have witnessed from the Covid jab to the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle and leadership failing to take responsibility.
My take is that the Coercive Covid Forced MRNA tyranny combined with Woke DEI LBGTQXYZ, CRT, Feminization of the Infantry, Discriminatory Promotion by race and sex at all rates and ranks, lack of General Officer Integrity exemplified by FD etc.. KILLED the Golden Goose ie Rednecks as described in James Webb’s book “Born Fighting:How the Scots-Irish Shaped America” . Would you volunteer under The current Tyranny that glorifies deviancy, demeans and disrespects religion, destroys American History, threatens to courts martial you for verbally misgendering someone or sends you Official Correspondence inviting you to a Retirement event is sent by a Commissioned Officer serving as the retiree’s Administrative Assistant and follows their Name and Rank w She Her? Would you recommend your son or daughter or Grandson/Granddaughter serve in the Biden/Harris/Austin/Brown/Smith Marine Corps?
In the fall 1974, I met the OSO in Cambridge, Massachusetts, they were very glad to have a warm victim come through their hatch. Recall the draft had ended, but Viet Nam was still on in fairly full boil. The PLC program is the Corps secret weapon for recruiting officer material, the appeal was twofold, “okay you think you like the Marines, great we will send you to summer camps in Quantico! Swimming pools and movie stars…Camp Upshur, anyone? The second was it gave the individual time to conclude that their desire to be a Marine was true and reasonably clear headed, and during the school one could more less keep to themselves. Though as it was with the PLC’s on campus we were loosely knit but after the first increment of OCS came back to school “CHANGED”. We would not fit in again. What a supreme gift the Corps delivered. The mid to late seventies were difficult recruiting years, everyone here knows the how and why of that and yet somehow the same clowns that brought you FD2030 have missed the boat on recruiting. They are as they have learned to do so well at the colleges they attend for advanced degrees, the joint duty in the USA and abroad, the liaison duty to congress, completely pandering to the lowest common denominator. Young men and women come to the Corps for many reasons, some backgrounds are well to do, some from the most God awful circumstances every created on earth. But if they make the fateful decision to join we few we happy few, they are changed FOREVER. There so many good thoughts and ideas here in the comments, that all of them could be bundled up sent to the CMC and used to correct, reinforce and and enhance recruiting. Not the least of which is support the Marines out there beating the bushes.
Lastly the problem in Cliff Notes version is the pathetic senior officer leadership in all the branches, and especially here in the Corps. We are DIFFERENT, get over it, your goofy haircut, your straight back seething with aggression posture sets you apart in a crowded room. We don’t need Silicon Valley majors, or bivalve Gunnery Sargent’s. We fix the slouched back, low morale, don’t give a damn except for me leaders at the top and a lot gets solved fast. Want a clear example? Check out the CMC. He was dead, civilians saved his life, he met them on a network TV morning program. He looked weak, frail and one could only feel badly for him, he should not be on active duty let alone the CMC. Yet, he persists. That is not part of the Ethos, we get that he is tough and wants to prove everything is okay, but is it not. We want General Smith to get really well and enjoy whatever time he has left. But we need to find the next “Chilly Willy” aka General Louis Wilson, who could freeze hot water to ice cubes in a a nano second with those steel blue eyes, hand on hips staring down a problem. We are different herald it, don’t run from it. Obvious really.
Re observation concerning enlistment and reenlistment of Marines, one of my sources of why not enlist is a 5 year Reconnaissance Decorated Marine Sergeant who related his experiences to his retired military parents, his parent’s parents also served, one for 30 years as an Army Officer the other as a Marine enlisted. He and his Recon Team were launched in the chaos of the 15th MEU Fatal AAV incident in order to attempt to locate their fellow Marines, coincidentally his father many years earlier as a Rifle Company Commander successfully launched his unit in AAVs in a similar rehearsal. His observations of the leadership or lack thereof and the way these elite, well trained Marines were abused regarding Covid Mandates killed his desire to reenlist. He did not share this w his unit. It is noteworthy that the majority of his fellow recon Marines also did not reenlist. Yesterday when the CNO and SecNav were questioned by a US House Committee regarding USN enlistments and reenlistments the SecNav was grilled re the way he treated sailors during the mandate. He had no regrets for the harassment and abuse he was responsible for seeking exemptions during the mandate. He was ask how many of the approximately 4,00O sailors separated had returned to the USN when offered the opportunity to do so. The answer was a single digit. He had no regrets and was truculent in his responses. America has a dysfunctional Executive Branch and Dept of Defense which is destroying the US Military from within using DEI/CRT etc ..
Perhaps it’s time to rethink all of these so called disqualifications. First off, almost every kid gets diagnosed with asthma now and that’s a disqualification. The vast majority are fine and could serve. Also let’s not worry so much if a potential recruit has a criminal record, let’s focus on what they were charged with. I remember General Gray telling an audience that he was more interested in a tough kid from the south side of Chicago than “Joey Jock” that won his district championship.
When I retired from active duty, I became a Marine Corps Junior ROTC Senior Marine Instructor (SMI). I did this for thirteen years, in inner city schools and in four different states. I had to deal with school administrators and guidance departments that, for the most part, provided minimal support to military recruiters. Fortunately, I was able to help all of the recruiters and in one high school have the Military Entrance Processing Station conduct the ASVAB.
I have always advocated for a professional recruiting program and was pleased to see the Corps take this route. As an SMI, I did everything I could to enhance Marine Recruiting. I did impose one rule. It required that the recruiter be fair and upfront with the student and their family.
Everyone has an opinion. Me included. The propensity to enlist is service specific. What draws young men and women to each service differs. “ Joining the military” is too broad. Each service has an image that must be reinforced.
1. Losing War after War is not good for trust, faith and confidence.
2. Modern cultural values espoused by the elite are not shared by those with a propensity to enlist. The young women do not want to wear men’s uniforms and fear assignment to the combat arms.
3. Sex is an iceberg. How many parents want to entrust their kids to an institution that harps incessantly on sexual harassment, sexual assault, fraternization, homosexuality, transgenderism, same sex marriage and champions unwed teenage mothers. Many traditional conservatives Americans view the military as perverse - more so than it actually is.
4. Physical standards should vary by service. Too many young people are disqualified for physical histories that are OBE. Many are disqualified for bogus mental health treatment from their past like ADD.
*************************************
US Marines Specific:
1. Focus on Spartan, Stoic, Elite and tough. Nock off pandering like “ civilian Marines” and “ Honorary Marines”.
2. Aim for athletes and run intramural athletics and interservice athletics at a high level. Every Marine an infantryman, an athlete and a scholar. A professional looking PT uniform would be a minimal start. Shooting is sport, tennis is a sport, competitive swimming is a sport, competitive golf is sport. So is football, baseball, boxing, wrestling, track and field, soccer….
3. Treat Marines like adults. Mission type orders in every aspect of being a Marine 24/7.
4. Insure there is a full GI Bill, without expiration and later transferability.
5. Change the paradigm from “recruiting” to “selecting”.
6. When former and retired Marines do not recommend enlistment investigate that thoroughly. What about their service led them to not recommend? I am sad to say we would find lack of trust, leaders who were condescending a$$holes, too much chickencrap and endless make work environments. Stop pretending that male and female Marines are interchangeable in every billet. No one believes that. Lies senior leaders tell are seen through by 18 year olds.
To understand recruiting shortfalls review the entire institution. The problem is not Marine Recruiting. The problem is the Marine Corps.
Double down on that concept for the USAF, USN and USA.
Superb!
One of our great, currently serving SgtMaj's, SgtMaj Wilson (currently of II MEF, I believe) said it best:
Our recruiting commercials of the 90's and 2000's were some of the most effective, because they personified why young men and women want to be Marines.
They want to scale difficult heights and kill dragons.
If we can continue to attract young people who want to kill dragons, we will continue to have the force that we have been accustomed to throughout history.
My take: If we adjust a recruiting model to attract people who want jobs, college, or lifestyle choices, we might no longer attract the youngsters who want to kill dragons. This threatens to fundamentally change our force.
I once introduced a highly capable cyber team of NCOs to the ACMC. I made a point to ask them what their background was, for his benefit. "Taco Bell." "7-Eleven." and the like were the unanimous responses.
The existential question for MCRC: If our Marines are the pride of the joint force, for their ability to take action, get things done, and accomplish any mission....How did they get that way?
I doubt there any single reason why the services are struggling to recruit and retain the numbers of fighting men and women the nation requires. Compass Points has potentially identified some of them. A recent article in The Federalist by Elaine Donnelly (“If Diversity is Our Strength, why is Our Military so Weak”) proffered another opinion, which is just that - - her opinion. But given the importance of this issue (recruiting), all opinions - - no matter how contentious - - deserve at least a cursory hearing. See the article at: https://thefederalist.com/2024/03/29/if-diversity-is-our-strength-why-is-our-military-so-weak/
While politicians, bureaucrats, and the uniformed military may agree or disagree on the root causes of the nation’s military recruiting woes, I believe we can all agree that recruiting is a national security issue. We have to identify and fix the problem(s) before it’s late.
I will be totally honest. When I was selected for Warrant Officer, I was also in possession of a pre-screening package to become a recruiter. When I was selected, I took that package to the 1stSgt, dropped it on his desk and said "I don't think I will be needing this anymore 1stSgt!" He looked down at it, looked up at me and told me to "Get the hell out of my office SSgt!"
I have known many folks that were terminal SSgt's because of recruiting. And that was 25 yrs ago. In todays climate, I can't imagine the pressure those recruiting Marines are under, how many divorces are taking place, the unbelievably long hours, the doors slammed in faces, dealing with high school kids.
It is a thankless job and it has to be done, but for many in the fleet in receipt of recruiting screening paperwork, it seems like a death sentence. Many, such as myself, seriously consider leaving the Corps instead of accepting those orders. All have heard the stories of failing to make mission and getting bad paperwork. As was told me...it is hero one month, scum of the earth the next.
Spot on! I sat on two enlisted promotion boards, E6 and E8-E9 boards. I can tell you first hand that my opinion of recruiters changed. I saw one too many outstanding Marines hitting their terminal rank because of bad papers received while on recruiting duty. I read too many OMPF on Marines who were recruiters where they were the best at Recruiting Sub Station XX but went to the bottom at Recruiting Sub Station YY.
Recruiting is an exceedingly difficult job, and it’s made that much more difficult when our country is polarized and our youths are indoctrinated to hate their history.
I would further add, the active duty Marines are shooting themselves in the foot by dismissing veterans as “has been’s” or when they throw the term “this isn’t your Corps anymore,” when we engage the on social media in relations to the FD2030 BS that is being foisted on Corps and Country. I for one am not pushing the young people I know to join based on the above and based on what we have witnessed from the Covid jab to the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle and leadership failing to take responsibility.
My take is that the Coercive Covid Forced MRNA tyranny combined with Woke DEI LBGTQXYZ, CRT, Feminization of the Infantry, Discriminatory Promotion by race and sex at all rates and ranks, lack of General Officer Integrity exemplified by FD etc.. KILLED the Golden Goose ie Rednecks as described in James Webb’s book “Born Fighting:How the Scots-Irish Shaped America” . Would you volunteer under The current Tyranny that glorifies deviancy, demeans and disrespects religion, destroys American History, threatens to courts martial you for verbally misgendering someone or sends you Official Correspondence inviting you to a Retirement event is sent by a Commissioned Officer serving as the retiree’s Administrative Assistant and follows their Name and Rank w She Her? Would you recommend your son or daughter or Grandson/Granddaughter serve in the Biden/Harris/Austin/Brown/Smith Marine Corps?
In the fall 1974, I met the OSO in Cambridge, Massachusetts, they were very glad to have a warm victim come through their hatch. Recall the draft had ended, but Viet Nam was still on in fairly full boil. The PLC program is the Corps secret weapon for recruiting officer material, the appeal was twofold, “okay you think you like the Marines, great we will send you to summer camps in Quantico! Swimming pools and movie stars…Camp Upshur, anyone? The second was it gave the individual time to conclude that their desire to be a Marine was true and reasonably clear headed, and during the school one could more less keep to themselves. Though as it was with the PLC’s on campus we were loosely knit but after the first increment of OCS came back to school “CHANGED”. We would not fit in again. What a supreme gift the Corps delivered. The mid to late seventies were difficult recruiting years, everyone here knows the how and why of that and yet somehow the same clowns that brought you FD2030 have missed the boat on recruiting. They are as they have learned to do so well at the colleges they attend for advanced degrees, the joint duty in the USA and abroad, the liaison duty to congress, completely pandering to the lowest common denominator. Young men and women come to the Corps for many reasons, some backgrounds are well to do, some from the most God awful circumstances every created on earth. But if they make the fateful decision to join we few we happy few, they are changed FOREVER. There so many good thoughts and ideas here in the comments, that all of them could be bundled up sent to the CMC and used to correct, reinforce and and enhance recruiting. Not the least of which is support the Marines out there beating the bushes.
Lastly the problem in Cliff Notes version is the pathetic senior officer leadership in all the branches, and especially here in the Corps. We are DIFFERENT, get over it, your goofy haircut, your straight back seething with aggression posture sets you apart in a crowded room. We don’t need Silicon Valley majors, or bivalve Gunnery Sargent’s. We fix the slouched back, low morale, don’t give a damn except for me leaders at the top and a lot gets solved fast. Want a clear example? Check out the CMC. He was dead, civilians saved his life, he met them on a network TV morning program. He looked weak, frail and one could only feel badly for him, he should not be on active duty let alone the CMC. Yet, he persists. That is not part of the Ethos, we get that he is tough and wants to prove everything is okay, but is it not. We want General Smith to get really well and enjoy whatever time he has left. But we need to find the next “Chilly Willy” aka General Louis Wilson, who could freeze hot water to ice cubes in a a nano second with those steel blue eyes, hand on hips staring down a problem. We are different herald it, don’t run from it. Obvious really.
Re observation concerning enlistment and reenlistment of Marines, one of my sources of why not enlist is a 5 year Reconnaissance Decorated Marine Sergeant who related his experiences to his retired military parents, his parent’s parents also served, one for 30 years as an Army Officer the other as a Marine enlisted. He and his Recon Team were launched in the chaos of the 15th MEU Fatal AAV incident in order to attempt to locate their fellow Marines, coincidentally his father many years earlier as a Rifle Company Commander successfully launched his unit in AAVs in a similar rehearsal. His observations of the leadership or lack thereof and the way these elite, well trained Marines were abused regarding Covid Mandates killed his desire to reenlist. He did not share this w his unit. It is noteworthy that the majority of his fellow recon Marines also did not reenlist. Yesterday when the CNO and SecNav were questioned by a US House Committee regarding USN enlistments and reenlistments the SecNav was grilled re the way he treated sailors during the mandate. He had no regrets for the harassment and abuse he was responsible for seeking exemptions during the mandate. He was ask how many of the approximately 4,00O sailors separated had returned to the USN when offered the opportunity to do so. The answer was a single digit. He had no regrets and was truculent in his responses. America has a dysfunctional Executive Branch and Dept of Defense which is destroying the US Military from within using DEI/CRT etc ..
Perhaps it’s time to rethink all of these so called disqualifications. First off, almost every kid gets diagnosed with asthma now and that’s a disqualification. The vast majority are fine and could serve. Also let’s not worry so much if a potential recruit has a criminal record, let’s focus on what they were charged with. I remember General Gray telling an audience that he was more interested in a tough kid from the south side of Chicago than “Joey Jock” that won his district championship.
When I retired from active duty, I became a Marine Corps Junior ROTC Senior Marine Instructor (SMI). I did this for thirteen years, in inner city schools and in four different states. I had to deal with school administrators and guidance departments that, for the most part, provided minimal support to military recruiters. Fortunately, I was able to help all of the recruiters and in one high school have the Military Entrance Processing Station conduct the ASVAB.
I have always advocated for a professional recruiting program and was pleased to see the Corps take this route. As an SMI, I did everything I could to enhance Marine Recruiting. I did impose one rule. It required that the recruiter be fair and upfront with the student and their family.