Military experts emphasize quality over quantity in recruitment

The military has recently improved its recruitment numbers after struggling for several years. An expert from RAND, Beth Asch, emphasizes that the focus should now shift from just filling positions to ensuring the quality of recruits. The Army met its recruitment goals last year for the first time in two years, achieving 115% of its target so far this fiscal year. The Navy fell short last year at 88% but is currently at 105%. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted a strong recruitment month for the Army in January, stating that more Americans want to serve under President Trump’s leadership. Asch pointed out that while the overall numbers seem promising, they do not provide a complete picture of military readiness. She raised concerns about the quality of recruits, especially for the Army and Navy. Although military branches met their quality standards last year, many new recruits are entering through preparatory courses designed to help them overcome academic and physical challenges. Recruiting for the military is challenging because many young people lack knowledge about military service. According to the Army Recruiting Command, about 70% of potential recruits do not qualify due to issues like obesity and drug problems. Asch warns that allowing lower aptitude individuals into the military could be risky. While boosting numbers is important, it could compromise readiness if these recruits struggle to perform. She believes that military recruiters need to attract more high-aptitude candidates and provide better information on how military service can align with their career goals. To make military service appealing, recruiters might need additional resources and incentives, but Asch insists the long-term benefits will outweigh the costs.