Only 0.45% of our population currently serves in our armed forces. Why do you think this is so?

Sgt Joe LaBranche — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 10:43:09 -0500

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jan 27 at 2016 10:45 AM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 10:45:57 -0500

It's probably because when you take the size of the Armed Forces authorized by Congress, and then divide it by the total population, then you get a certain percentage. That number is a actually a little higher than 0.45%.

I'm not really sure if you were asking for anything else, but to increase the size of those serving, you would need to increase the size of the military, which is up to the Federal Government.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 10:54 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 10:54:27 -0500

This Gallup poll from 2012 says 24% males and 2% of females are veterans

http://www.gallup.com/poll/158729/men-women-veterans.aspx

In U.S., 24% of Men, 2% of Women Are Veterans

On this Veterans Day, 13% of U.S. adults are veterans, including 24% of men and 2% of women. Veteran status is above 60% among men 75 and older, but no more than 12% for men younger than 35.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 10:55 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 10:55:56 -0500

I think it because of parents that do not instill the pride of being an American in their children, and how awesome it is to serve our country!

Response by SPC David S. made Jan 27 at 2016 11:11 AM

SPC David S. — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 11:11:06 -0500

I know this is a bit dated but 80% that want to serve are not up to par. Main reason (27%) is they're butterballs created by the x-box factor. Parents need to take their kids camping and engage them in an outdoor environment. I volunteered for my daughters school outdoor education program - 2 days at a camp for her 5th grade. It was very sad to see only 4 kids (two I had taken prior) hands go up when they asked them if they ever canoed before. We're talking 60+ kids.

There are many more that do want to its just that they get turned away.

http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/2014/05/14/80-of-military-recruitments-turned-down.html

80% of Military Recruitments Turned Down

The U.S. military has been turning down applicants in droves, and it's not just because of the drawdown.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 11:38 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 11:38:25 -0500

Fear.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jan 27 at 2016 12:07 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:07:07 -0500

With an all volunteer...recruited...force, you are going to have less people joining compared to compulsory service. It is actually fairly surprising how many people do not qualify for all the various reason, so that shrinks the pool down even further.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Jan 27 at 2016 12:23 PM

SFC Joseph Weber — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 12:23:55 -0500

Quotas set by the Federal Government.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Jan 27 at 2016 1:03 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:03:09 -0500

Because they are not needed. FYI: It was only 12 percent during World War II.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 1:53 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 13:53:03 -0500

The answer is simple because congress and budgets dictate the number of people in the armed forces, simple as that. Don't look for a deeper patriotic response when the number is limited by law.

Response by Andre Behrens made Jan 27 at 2016 2:01 PM

Andre Behrens — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 14:01:15 -0500

I can only speak in terms of perceptions as somebody who admires service members but never joined. I am, and always have been a very serious nerd. A book worm. I do enjoy physical activity, but not in groups. I treasure my brain. I treasure my independence of thought and movement. My *perception* is that these would be problems to fix in a military context, and not only do I not agree that they are problems, but there are ample opportunities in the private sector to operate as I wish. To overcome this, somebody would need to have come to me and said "We could use someone like you." Or better yet "We need somebody like you." But no one ever did.

I would emphasize that even if my perceptions are wrong, they are all I have to go on.

I am, however, very drawn to service toward others, and at my age well understand how much I benefit from my status as a citizen. Nor am I deluded about where U.S. Power comes from. I think it comes down to being unable to picture a successful career for myself in the military. I couldn't imagine what that would look like, and none of the presentations of military life, either in film or TV, or in recruitment materials, or from people I knew, painted a picture I wanted to be part of.

Which is interesting because I think the military would benefit from the presence of people like me, perhaps in roles not currently defined. I have a hunch that the status quo of military life is tied to assumptions no longer operable.

So I guess it's interesting to me, the way the question is phrased. I would bet more than that percentage are open to some kind of service. I would ask what kinds of service would interest new and different people. And I would ask how the military could adjust its culture, and the presentation of its culture to appeal to a wider swath. Speaking only for myself, I haven't heard that pitch.

Imagine an ad that would say to a nerd. "You, nerd. We have a place for you. You will be welcomed, appreciated, and excel. We will make you better." I've seen ads like that from the various branches, but none of them seemed aimed at me. They seemed aimed at the guy in front of me in home room who became a blue angel.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 3:50 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 15:50:56 -0500

There are roughly 1.4 million active duty service members and around 850K reserve and national guard members. While the population of the US is roughly 322 million, only 66% of that number is between the ages of 15 and 65 which means only 213 million are even "working age." 2.25 million out of 213 million means that a little over 1% of all working age people are currently serving in the military. If we expand that to all who are serving or who have served that number is going to jump considerably. This article puts that number at 13%, 24% of all men and 2% of all women.

I believe those are pretty good numbers.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/158729/men-women-veterans.aspx

In U.S., 24% of Men, 2% of Women Are Veterans

On this Veterans Day, 13% of U.S. adults are veterans, including 24% of men and 2% of women. Veteran status is above 60% among men 75 and older, but no more than 12% for men younger than 35.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2016 9:10 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 21:10:38 -0500

Because my generation is full of a bunch of entitled brats. I think if we were to ever bring a draft, it would hurt more than help us.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 9:07 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 09:07:08 -0500

Manpower restrictions are certainly part of it...but it's also hard to ignore that the military at least "sounds" like less a place to advance one's self compared to earlier assumptions. Couple both with the shift in culture from service to self-gratification...and I think there's an answer.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 28 at 2016 8:36 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 20:36:14 -0500

Some people don't have the mettle, education, patriotism, guts, desire, or common sense to serve our military. Our country is large and can rely on an all volunteer force, although the wars have burnt out many of our SMs.