We are responsible for the military recruiting crisis

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Parades, family reunions and ceremonies in small towns. For many Americans, Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and a day to honor the more than one million men and women who have lost their lives in service to the country. Today, in the midst of an unprecedented military recruitment crisis, leaders need more than a few good men and women ready to deal with looming global threats like China.

More than 75% of young Americans are not eligible for military service, let alone have the desire to join. In a recent survey, as many as 6 in 10 respondents listed the possibility of physical injury or death as their number one reason for not joining the military. Fear of PTSD and other psychological trauma followed closely. Leaders look to the next generation to fill the ranks. But why would they?

Forever Wars Fallout

As a society, we cannot entirely blame this new generation of young people for their disinterest and reluctance to serve. Gen Zers, born between 1997 and 2012, grew up in the shadow of the September 11 terrorist attacks, but have no memory of that fateful day. They have been exposed to war as spectators of many political failures in Iraq and, more recently, in Afghanistan, now in chaos. These would-be warriors saw first-hand veterans struggle with fear, anger and betrayal after the disastrous final US withdrawal from the Middle East.

The fallout from America’s Eternal Wars has consequently left Gen Z with no clear purpose for America’s role in the world and a negative perception of its global leadership. In a 2021 Pew Research survey, less than 25% of 18-29 year olds thought the United States ranked above all other countries in the world. Patriotic sentiment declined further as only 16% of Gen Z adults surveyed said they were proud to live in the United States.

The societal engagement of Generation Z contrasts sharply with that of young people at the turn of the century. These post-millennials, however, know only the struggle of nations, not its unity. Generation Z is rising, not as warriors serving a grateful nation, but as activists willing to tackle its ills.

Zoomers may not be inspired to wear a uniform, but they’re anything but apathetic when it comes to the causes they believe in. The vast majority of Gen Z said they took at least some action related to the Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd in 2020.

But is Gen Z’s aversion to physical and emotional risk limited to the context of military service? Of 39,000 Gen Zers surveyed, 90% indicated support for Black Lives Matter. Nearly 25,000 respondents said they would be willing to be arrested at a protest for black equality. The death of George Floyd in police custody offered a spark that ignited the game for the latest wave of social justice demands and gave young people something to rally behind. Generation Z has taken the helm.

Anti-American indoctrination

Gen Z’s disinterest in military service owes more than just to their exposure to American failures at home and abroad. Education today shapes their perception of America and its history. Many schools are now incorporating controversial concepts of critical race theory into the curriculum, promoting the idea of ​​white privilege under the guise of anti-racism. A survey commissioned by the conservative Manhattan Institute found that 62% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 20 had learned or heard from an adult at school that America was a systematically racist country.

The rhetoric of those on the left only reinforces anti-American sentiment in the classroom. Amid the current military recruiting crisis, President Biden lost another opportunity to highlight Americas greatness and inspire pride during a commencement address at a historically black university last weekend.

Forget the role of the Americas in the defeat of Nazi Germany or remind listeners that their nations participated in the historic dismantling of the Soviet Union. The president instead hinted at a fairy tale story as a racist nation, pointing to white supremacy as the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland. Why should leaders register surprise when the call to serve falls on deaf ears?

From the terrorist attacks of September 11 emerged a new generation of Americans eager to serve and defend their country. More than 180,000 joined active duty in the year that followed. Some joined just for the benefits and job stability. Still others with images of the burning Twin Towers etched in their memories.

America got its political and military strategy badly wrong in the months and years after 9/11, and this country will never shake its shameful legacy of slavery. There is merit in learning from our flaws, but we are not defined solely by them. We will cripple this generation and the next if we don’t remind them of our triumphs.

The military now desperately needs the membership of this young class of social justice activists, who have recently turned to drag in an effort to attract new recruits. The Navy’s controversial use of an active-duty drag queen as a digital ambassador follows the military’s previous failed attempt to inspire Gen Z to serve with a recruiting ad featuring a marriage homosexual. Both were ostensibly aimed at broadening the pool of applicants and stimulating interest in joining.

Meanwhile, China threatens Taiwan and Russia wages war on NATO borders amid a deepening recruiting crisis at home. Meanwhile, the United States remains engulfed in enmity from within. Our army needs patriots, not critics; warriors, not militants. From educators to leaders, were compelling potential warriors of whom there is little to be proud of, let alone die or suffer in the service of their country.

Alyssa is a military spouse and holds a master’s degree in global studies and international relations. She currently writes as a contributor for the Daily Caller and has previously been featured in Newsweek.

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