Military struggling to find new troops as fewer young Americans are willing or able to serve.

Source: Military struggling to find new troops as fewer young Americans willing or able to serve – ABC News

If you think it is bad now, wait 5 years when the number of young people falls off even more:

Some of its blamed on young adults not sufficiently fit to join the military, but we also must face the reality that there are fewer young people. Period.

Most young people don’t qualify for military service or careers (ydr.com)

According to 2017 Pentagon data, 71 percent of young people are ineligible to join the military. The reasons: obesity, no high school diploma, or a criminal record.

27% are ineligible due to obesity, and 37% are due to [pre-existing] medical conditions, that make them ineligible for military service. For example, I suffered a skull fracture at about age 12; that’s a disqualifier. I also have food allergies. That’s a disqualifier. No matter how fit I may have been, I would not qualify.

Update: A recent interview with high ranking Army staff says that now, only 23% qualify for service, down from 29% in the 2017 notes, above.

Coldstreams