The tight job market is hurting Army recruitment of young Americans, compounding health concerns and wariness about serving after decades of war.

Source: U.S. Army struggles to find recruits its needs to win fight of future

Hmmm …. might be another reason …

Population of WORLD 2019 – PopulationPyramid.net (modeled to 2022)

“Only about 23% of kids between 16 and 21 are able to meet our standards, and some of that, frankly, is reflective of the problem that we have in our country with obesity,” she said, adding that behavioral health and misconduct are also factors.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/26/us-army-struggles-to-find-recruits-its-needs-to-win-fight-of-future.html

They and the media focus on obesity but pre-existing medical conditions are the largest component:

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.

21- Demographics: Military recruiting hits demographic wall too – Coldstreams

Coldstreams