Three years ago, the Army faced a recruitment crisis. Behind its recovery is a program for would-be soldiers who don't make the cut.

In 2022, as years of shortfall in recruiting numbers compounded into a crisis, the Army test-launched the Future Soldier prep course, a boot camp-style program to quickly pull up recruits who don’t meet academic or physical standards. That year, the Army’s recruiting class had been 25% shy of its goal of 60,000 new soldiers.

Three years later, with the Army’s recruitment crisis in the rearview mirror, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and others say young people are clamoring to serve under President Donald Trump. The fledgling Future Soldier prep course started during Joe Biden’s presidency and has played a central role in reversing the recruiting slump.

    • booty [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
      30·
      8 days ago

      I could complete a triathlon. I think everyone will have long since gone home by the time I cross the finish line though.

  • came_apart_at_Kmart [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
    16·
    8 days ago

    man, that article is grim.

    a lot of the hay made up top is about the physical fitness side, but i kept wondering about the academic side. even back before 9/11 and earlier, mostly among active and former military, they said there were a lot of stupid people in there. just straight up dumbasses, and the army was the branch that had the lowest standards. ive known multiple people that went into the air force, supposedly the most stringent for math & language requirements, and they are absolutely people who objectively suck at math and reading.

    so, these things are swimming around in my mind , and im wondering… how many applicants are not making the cut, mentally?

    Trainees who need academic help make up around 70% of the Future Soldier prep course.

    the last few paragraphs are about the whys, and they are depressing and grim. the subtext article paints a picture of the young people our society, has absolutely failed across the board. failed to keep safe/secure, failed to educate in the basics of literacy, language and functional math, and here they are applying themselves to the one free government program to try and reach a minimum level of general competency and probably get some OK nutrition in the form of a cafeteria meal.

    i would support the living shit out of something like this just to help people who’ve fallen behind, want it and need some help to reach up, but its a goddamn cryin’ ass shame its only here for empire and blood… to prop up the structures that have failed the people who maintain them.

    what a sick fucking country.