Courtesy of Mark Kelm (pictured second from right)

The number of those joining the military has been declining in recent times.

“I want you” used to be a commonly known quote, said by Uncle Sam. It was created during World War I to increase recruitment rates to help out with war. This was due to the Selective Service System. Fast forward over a century, and not many teenagers/young people are aware of this saying, as the rate of people joining the military has drastically fallen. There are a plethora of reasons why this is true.

There are six branches of the United States Military: Air Force, Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Space Force, and Coast Guard. According to the Boston Globe, the Army is currently going through the largest recruitment crisis. In 2022, the Army fell short of its recruitment goal by 25%. In order to run smoothly, the military needs as many courageous people to serve as possible. It could become a potential threat to the safety of America if recruitment rates don’t rise in the near future. “Very few kids these days are in the physical shape necessary to meet the basic requirements to enlist…about 77% are not fully qualified for military service due to various factors,” Reverend Mark Kelm said.

Reverend Kelm enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was eighteen years old. He needed to find a way to pay for college, while also doing something honorable for his country. He was in the army for numerous years and has stayed connected with the military world. He has noticed a drop in the number of those who enlist in the military. One of the reasons he believes this is that serving is no longer a requirement. “Very few contemporary U.S. kids these days have been raised with a sense of service toward others,” Kelm said.

Military academies are a good option for those who want to continue to receive a top tier education, while also training to be a skillful part of the military. Students graduate from the academies as officers of whatever branch they are in. However, due to the tough requirements (high GPA, good ACT and SAT, mass MEPS test, strength, etc) to get into such prestigious academies, many fear they won’t be able to get in, and some are unable to get in. Junior Jun Vang is going to West Point, which is the Army military academy. “Serving has so many great opportunities to build character and gain essential skills. It provides a lot of benefits towards me and my family,” Vang said.

The MEPS test is a series of evaluations that a candidate for the military has to go through. It tests physical, mental, and moral readiness. If someone gets injured, has a learning disability (such as severe ADHD or Dyslexia, autism, and severe depression), or an autoimmune disorder, or a sickness that requires medication, they most likely can’t join the military. These tricky tests and strict rules prohibit many from joining the military. This is the case for junior Abbie Kagel. “What may stop me [from joining] is having medication for ADHD and already having three concussions,” Kagel said.

The number of men in the military drastically exceeds the number of women. According to Statistica, the amount of men that are in the military is over double of the amount of women. If half of the world’s population doesn’t feel well represented in the military, it may prohibit them from joining, which causes enlisting rates to drop. If women do join the military, it can at times be sexist. Even though it may be especially tough because she is a woman, Vang still finds joy about enlisting. “The biggest excitement about joining the military is being able to experience things I could never imagine I would be able to do,” Vang said.

Fear stops many from joining the military. It is not always a safe job to have, and there is a strong chance that your life will be put at risk from time to time. Junior Emma Rudowsky respects the work the military does, but doesn’t believe that it is for her. “I personally don’t think I would be a good candidate for the military because I am too scared, but I really respect people who serve and I think they are really noble and amazing people,” Rudowsky said.

A large reason high school students not only from BSM, but from all over, don’t want to join the military is the systemic issues in the military. Sexism, tough standards to pass, and the dangerousness cause many to steer clear of enlisting. In the future, if these issues are addressed, and improvements are made, hopefully, the numbers of those in the military will skyrocket to a patriotic all time high. “Young people will join again in larger quantities next time our nation is attacked,” Kelm said.