https://x.com/JackBMontgomery/...342600851136699?s=20



People reacted to the news that the U.S. Army is struggling to recruit white soldiers by asking why they would want to serve a regime that hates them.

The unintended consequence of being an idiot democrat ( I know that’s redundant ) but it was worth repeating.

Yeah; that's a real head-scratcher.

I left after 10 years in because I didn't like how things were going. (Air Force) My wife spent 4 years in herself.

There is not a chance in the world I'd recommend military service for any of our kids in this environment.

The smart kids are figuring out they are'nt fighting for any just cause, just old men's money and ego.

My family had six generations of military men. Both my brother and I served. However, it stops with me. My kids will not join the military; I don’t trust the military with my kids.

If things keep going the way they are none of our grandchildren, if their parents wishes are followed, will serve; even though the parents served.

Silent

I don't have any first hand experience with this, all I've got is what I read in the funnies. But when I hear the words and tone of the brass talking about whites, when I see the news snips of freak flags equal among flags with Old Glory, when I hear the pledges that from now on promotions are going to be 'balanced', I should believe them, and when my grand boys ask, I'm going to suggest a different direction.

My family served in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, as well as WWI and WWII. I served in the Vietnam/Cold war era. My son does not serve and I am glad. Had he enlisted, his age would have put him into our Middle Eastern fiasco.

A mystery, they say. Is it time for para’s quote about not having a clue?

On one hand, your service is what you make of it. What's the saying in the Navy, Choose your rate, choose your fate

The realty though, the military has become more corporatized decade after decade. From the continual adaption of corporate culture amongst officers that increases their disconnectedness to the rest of the military, accepting a non-martial culture particularly in non-combat arms branches, the up-or-out promotion process, the poor manning and training going on in the Navy, the hyper-dogmatic rigidity of the Marines....there's a lot of problems.

Obviously, it’s all conservative white people’s fault:

"Another Army official pointed to partisan attacks from conservative lawmakers and media, which has an overwhelmingly white audience."

Military.com - Army Sees Sharp Decline in White Recruits

“ In most cases, those attacks have zeroed in on the services being more inclusive for women, service members from racial minority groups and LGBTQ+ troops.

"No, the young applicants don't care about this stuff. But the older people in their life do who have a lot of influence ... parents, coaches, pastors," one Army official told Military.com. "There's a level of prestige in parts of conservative America with service that has degraded. Now, you can say you don't want to join, for whatever reason, or bad-mouth the service without any cultural guilt associated for the first time in those areas."”

This part about college enrollment is interesting:

“A similar demographic trend to what the Army is experiencing has been popping up at colleges across the country. Between 2010 and 2021, white undergraduate and graduate college enrollment rates fell from 43% to 38%, according to the most recent federal data from the National Center for Education Statistics. That dip coincided with fewer men enrolling, with male enrollment decreasing from 38% to 33% over the same period of time.”

It’s a mystery why people would encourage their children to go into fields where their children have a fair shot of success and avoid those fields where their children don’t check the right boxes.

The irony is this part is true: "No, the young applicants don't care about this stuff…" My kids truly don’t care what color, sex, sexual orientation, etc. their friends are. But they will when they start getting passed over for advancement by lessor qualified people.

Oh wait….no,no,no…it won’t stop here…

They will say now the military itself, being full of mostly minorities, is the product of white supremacy.

They will double down and use this to prove even more white supremacy.

Bigger, better, white supremacy!!!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by corsair:
the hyper-dogmatic rigidity of the Marines..../QUOTE]

corsair, if you would, please expand on this a bit for us?

A big problem is the pay. Or lack of it.

An E4 makes $30K. A person working at McDonalds makes $40K ($20 X 2000 hours).

If we cannot attract people because we cannot afford the bill, then we need to have a draft.

But -- warning! -- a draft that is not ruthlessly fair is very socially divisive. No student deferments, no deferments for mythical bone spurs, equal treatment for males and females, etc., would all be issues that need to be overcome for the draft to be fair.

quote:

Originally posted by RoverSig:
An E4 makes $30K. A person working at McDonalds makes $40K ($20 X 2000 hours).

Yes, servicemen deserve better pay, as do most public servants. But that income comparison is not apples to apples.

The burger flipper has to pay for housing, food, and health insurance out of their income. The E4 doesn't. So the E4 has substantially higher discretionary income than that hypothetical McDonalds worker, despite having a lower annual income.

In addition, McDonalds workers don't make $20 (except in California). The average across the rest of the country is ~$11, putting them well below the E4 even before you deduct all their additional expenses.

quote:

Originally posted by RoverSig:
A big problem is the pay. Or lack of it.

An E4 makes $30K. A person working at McDonalds makes $40K ($20 X 2000 hours).

I don't know how such comparisons shake out these days, but, back when I was in (which was, admittedly, quite some time ago), they were apples:oranges comparisons. Does a $20k/yr. McD's employee get free medical, dental, and prescription coverage? Free legal assistance? Any of the other benefits that accrue from being in the U.S. military?

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by corsair:
the hyper-dogmatic rigidity of the Marines..../QUOTE]

corsair, if you would, please expand on this a bit for us?

Marine Corps doesn't take too kindly to those who wish to change branches (within the USMC) or, when their MOS is overmanned/being down-sized, the opportunity to lateral to a different MOS doesn't happen too often. Obviously if you're a senior NCO there's some limitations however the ability to move into a different job as a junior NCO doesn't happen too often.

Not unusual to find 'former' Marines who are E-5,6, 7, who moved over to the Army or, Air Force, as their career path and/or ability to pivot within the USMC is very limited. As an officer, you can be moved into a staff, joint or, coalition billet and finish out your time or, find a new job.

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by corsair:
the hyper-dogmatic rigidity of the Marines..../QUOTE]

corsair, if you would, please expand on this a bit for us?

Inquiring minds want to know Mr. Corsair. It isn't clear to me either. Thanks.