Future of Freedom Podcast Summary

Episode: Mackenzie Eaglen & John G. Ferrari: How Should Military Recruiting Efforts Be Improved?
Release Date: August 30, 2024
Host: Scott Bertram
Guests:

• Mackenzie Eaglen, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
• John G. Ferrari, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute

Introduction

In this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scott Bertram delves into the pressing issue of declining military recruitment in the United States. Bringing together two experts from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Mackenzie Eaglen and John G. Ferrari, the discussion explores the multifaceted challenges facing military recruitment and potential strategies to enhance enlistment efforts.

Mackenzie Eaglen’s Perspective

Current Recruiting Challenges

Mackenzie Eaglen emphasizes the severity of the recruitment decline, noting that the U.S. military is operating with some of its smallest forces since World War II. She explains, “The military is under strain because of all of the competing challenges and the growing workload” (00:55).

Reasons for Decline

Eaglen identifies several factors contributing to the dwindling interest in military service among young Americans:

• Decreased Public Confidence: Historically, the military has been one of the most trusted institutions in the U.S. However, over the past five years, public trust has significantly eroded. “Other institutions like Congress, the media, organized religion, big banks have fallen off a cliff. The armed forces was sort of the last bastion of confidence... but those numbers have dropped in a short period,” she explains (03:54).
• Lack of Exposure: With fewer military personnel, potential recruits have limited interactions with service members. “There are fewer and fewer people who are a touch point to a future recruit... 'You can’t be what you can’t see,'” cites General Brown (06:09).
• Negative Perceptions: Experiences and headlines highlighting misconduct within the armed forces have also dampened interest.

Proposed Solutions

Eaglen suggests several actionable strategies to revive military recruitment:

• Expanding Public Access to Military Bases: Opening military installations for public engagement can enhance visibility and interest. She highlights the importance of showcasing unique aspects of military life, such as museums and recreational facilities (06:20).
• Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Expansion: Eaglen advocates for the significant expansion of JROTC programs in high schools. “Only about 5% of public high schools have a Junior ROTC program,” she points out, underscoring the potential benefits of increased exposure at a formative age (08:29).
• Improving Compensation and Quality of Life: Enhancements in pay and infrastructure could make military service more attractive (11:28).

Addressing Cultural Shifts

Eaglen notes a growing anti-military and anti-war sentiment among youth, exacerbated by broader cultural movements. She stresses the importance of reversing this trend to restore the military’s noble standing in society (15:43).

John G. Ferrari’s Perspective

Economic Factors in Recruitment

Ferrari approaches the recruitment issue from an economic standpoint, emphasizing the direct competition between military service and civilian job opportunities for young Americans:

• Labor Market Dynamics: He highlights a significant decline in the population of 18-year-olds due to lower birth rates during the Great Financial Crisis. “We’re going from having 9 million 18-year-olds down to about 8 million. 15% drop,” Ferrari explains (19:10).
• Pay Disparities: The military’s pay for junior enlisted personnel has not kept pace with inflation or civilian counterparts. “Junior enlisted are making roughly $13 to $14 an hour. At McDonald's now, it’s a mandatory minimum wage of $20 an hour,” he states (19:35).

Historical Context

Ferrari reflects on historical recruitment strategies, comparing the voluntary force today to the draft-era conscription of the late 60s and early 70s. He explains that past pay raises under the Reagan administration temporarily stabilized recruitment but did not address long-term economic competitiveness (22:00).

Proposed Solutions

Ferrari advocates for substantial pay increases to make military service more financially attractive:

• Significant Pay Raises: He suggests a 10-20% increase in starting pay could dramatically improve recruitment numbers. “The House proposed a 19% pay raise, and the Senate has countered with about a 5% raise,” Ferrari notes (27:26).
• Prioritizing Defense Funding: Emphasizing national security, Ferrari argues for increased defense budgets as essential to preventing costly conflicts and maintaining economic stability (28:39).

Challenging Cultural Narratives

Addressing claims that the military has become "too woke," Ferrari downplays cultural factors, attributing recruitment struggles primarily to economic issues. “The supply of 18 to 24-year-olds is going down dramatically. The competition for them is high because they have many more alternatives,” he asserts (31:26).

Future Outlook

Ferrari discusses the unlikelihood of reinstating the draft under current political climates, suggesting that Congress will prioritize financial incentives over mandatory service: “Congress will use the fiscal lever before they mandate conscription” (33:24).

Comparative Insights

Both Eaglen and Ferrari agree that improving military recruitment requires a multifaceted approach:

• Economic Incentives: Ferrari focuses on the necessity of competitive pay to attract recruits, underscoring the critical role of immediate financial benefits.

• Cultural Exposure: Eaglen emphasizes the importance of increasing visibility and positive exposure to military life through programs like JROTC and public access to bases.

• Retention Linkage: Eaglen connects recruitment to retention, explaining that happier service members are more likely to stay and advocate for military service, creating a positive feedback loop.

Conclusion

The episode highlights the complex interplay between economic factors and cultural perceptions in military recruitment. Eaglen and Ferrari provide complementary viewpoints, advocating for both increased financial incentives and enhanced public engagement strategies to address the decline in military enlistment. As the military faces ongoing recruitment challenges, these insights underscore the need for comprehensive policy measures to ensure the armed forces remain robust and capable.

Notable Quotes

• Mackenzie Eaglen (03:54):

  "There is not a single reason for the decline in trust in the armed forces, but a confluence of differing reasons ranging from really bad headlines based on terrible things that have happened in the armed forces to all."

• Mackenzie Eaglen (06:09):

  "You can't be what you can't see. And if you're not exposed to someone who loves their job, why would you ever even consider it?"

• John G. Ferrari (19:35):

  "Junior enlisted are making roughly $13 to $14 an hour. At McDonald's now, it’s a mandatory minimum wage of $20 an hour."

• John G. Ferrari (27:26):

  "We're looking at a pay raise somewhere between 10 and 20%. The House proposed a 19% pay raise, and the Senate has countered with about a 5% raise."

• John G. Ferrari (31:26):

  "The supply of 18 to 24-year-olds is going down dramatically. The competition for them is high because they have many more alternatives."

Timestamps Reference

• 00:55 - Introduction of Mackenzie Eaglen
• 03:54 - Discussion on public confidence in the military
• 06:09 - Importance of exposure to military personnel
• 06:20 - Proposed solutions for improving recruitment
• 08:29 - Benefits of expanding JROTC programs
• 11:28 - Compensation and quality of life issues
• 15:43 - Addressing anti-military sentiments
• 19:10 - John Ferrari on the scope of recruitment problems
• 19:35 - Economic comparison between military and civilian pay
• 22:00 - Historical context of military recruitment
• 27:26 - Proposed pay raises to improve recruitment
• 31:26 - Economic factors over cultural issues in recruitment
• 33:24 - Discussion on the possibility of reinstating the draft

For more insightful discussions on the intersection of conservatism and libertarianism, subscribe to Future of Freedom and other podcasts from America’s Talking Network at americastalking.com.