U.S. Representative Jim Banks (R-IN), Chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on perceptions of the military across the media landscape, and how the military services are adapting to generational, societal, and cultural shifts with messaging, advertising, and other efforts to sustain the All-Volunteer Force and increase trust in the institution.
Rep. Banks' remarks as prepared for delivery:
I want to welcome everyone to this hearing of the Military Personnel Subcommittee. Today's hearing is focused on "Recruiting Shortfalls and Growing Mistrust: Perceptions of the U.S. Military." I want to thank our witnesses for being with us today. I hope this hearing provides an opportunity for our members to have a productive exchange with our witnesses and provide answers to their questions.
By all metrics, the All-Volunteer Force has been a success. It is the most highly trained, proficient military force in the world. But at 50, the All-Volunteer Force is at a crossroads.
In 2023, all military services except the Marine Corps and Space Force missed their recruiting goals. Although none of the three largest services—Army, Navy, and Air Force—are healthy, recruiting shortfalls are particularly troubling in the U.S. Army. Last year the Army wanted to recruit 65,000 active-duty troops but ended up falling 15,000 troops short. To stave off worse losses, the Air Force and the Navy offered extensive financial bonuses and took a wide range of other one-time measures. The Navy increased the maximum enlistment age from 39 to 41 and the Air Force to age 42.
The recruiting crisis has multiple underlying causes, not least of which is the proliferation of bad news stories about military life….
What parent or teacher would recommend military service to their son or daughter when the overwhelming perception is that there are rats in the barracks, suicide rates are climbing, opioids are everywhere, the food options are terrible or inaccessible, and there's a risk your child could be raped or murdered.
And there's the administration's pet project: forcing the military to be the guinea pig for their next social justice experiment….
Even now, when we can see that DEI has failed across the country, increasing division and hate, ignoring merit, and now fostering rampant antisemitism…. This administration still elevates Social Justice over our national security.
And the result is a steep loss in institutional trust in the services and recruiting numbers at their lowest point in 50 years.
There is one service that hasn't tried to bend to the culture wars….
The Marine Corps stayed on message and has met their recruiting goals year after year. The Marines' success, where every other service has failed, is an indictment of this administration's failed social justice experiments.
From today's panel, I want to hear how DoD and the Military Services will provide a consistent message that emphasizes service and commitment and doesn't cater to woke theories. I want to understand how each service plans to update their recruiting strategy to address Gen Z expectations, to familiarize a distant public with military service, and to improve servicemember quality of life.
