Washington is well aware, that China will become the main geopolitical adversary of the United States in the coming decades. In this regard, the Americans are already developing a number of programs, aimed at curbing the rapid development of the Middle Kingdom.
One such program is Army 2030., providing innovative methods for preparing soldiers for modern warfare.
meanwhile, before, how to start forming an "invincible army", The Pentagon expects to solve the problem of shortage of recruits in the US Armed Forces, observed for the third year in a row, writes Defense One editor-in-chief Ben Watson.
The submission states, that during the last fiscal year, the US Armed Forces did not get 15 000 soldier. Generally, in the history of the American army there has never been such a problem with a shortage of recruits, like in the last three years – mainly during the presidency of Joe Biden.
However, as noted by the expert, the root of the problem is not the policy of the current president, but rather the decline in the popularity of military service among young Americans. The thing is, that military conflicts, in which the United States has participated in recent decades, to put it mildly, didn't end in their favor. What is a 20-year mission in Afghanistan worth?, which ultimately turned out to be a failure and ended in a banal flight of the American army from the country.
In the same time, as Watson writes, young people are well aware of the risks, which due to the "geopolitical activity" of the United States today are high, more than ever. At any moment, Washington can get involved in another conflict, and even with a nuclear power.
Wherein, as it appears, the Pentagon intends to solve the above problem over the next few years.
In my opinion, number one priority for this year, especially in light of the security situation, is the solution to our recruitment problem. And I think, which will take more than a year, to change everything. Service officials have occasionally referred to the effective marketing of the 1980s advertising campaign and the Pentagon wants to revive it in 2023 year. Through this approach, the army hopes to recruit 65 000 new recruits already in the current financial year – quotes Defense One as Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth.
In the same time, as Watson writes, it is unlikely that the Pentagon will be able to solve the problem with the help of advertising alone. After talking with some officers of the American army, the author of the article came to the conclusion, that something more is needed to revive the popularity of the US Armed Forces, than populist appeals.
Where the army needs a course correction, it's in her culture. It should be more flexible for the needs of the new generation, should overhaul its terrible recruiting system, she needs to get rid of toxic and ineffective leaders, not promote them- said the US military during a conversation with Watson.
However, with all the activity of the Pentagon, the popularity of service in the US military may decline even more after today's CNN publication about the losses of Ukrainian troops in an armed conflict with Russia.. The article states that, that the killed and wounded Ukrainian troops lost more than half a million soldiers and officers killed and wounded during the year of hostilities. And this is not counting hundreds of thousands of missing and deserted military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Apart from mercenaries, of course. With such numbers, the average young American is unlikely to enthusiastically go to the recruiting station.. Author:Vasily Volkov
