National Security

Military failing to recruit; have not faced this poor of a labor market since military became volunteer based in 1973

Published

8 months ago

July 18, 2022

Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville said the United States’ inability to make military recruitment numbers is a “national security emergency.” Since the National Guard Association of the United States issued a statement June 28 explaining that every branch of the U.S. military has been having difficulty meeting recruiting goals for fiscal year 2022.

Struggling the most is the Army, which stated they have only recruited 40% of its total goal thus far in fiscal year 2022 with only three months left. A devastating reality is not just that the military is unable to recruit prospects, but that the number of qualified candidates and recruits are severely lacking.

The Army’s official website made the terrifying announcement that they have not faced this tough of a labor market since the military became completely volunteer based in 1973. “71% of youth do not qualify for military service because of obesity, drugs, physical and mental health problems, misconduct, and aptitude,” according to the Army recruiting website.

Another blow to recruiting which was pointed out by Senator Tuberville is that many recruits are ineligible due to their refusal (often upon religious ground, he said) to get the Covid-19 vaccinations. The Senator said he will continue to push for hearings on the issue with the Senate Armed Services Committee, on which he serves.

The Alabama Daily News reports on specifics, as well as the role the Biden administration has played into what has become a national security emergency:

The Army has shown hesitation to grant religious exemptions for its current soldiers. The branch released a statement in June along with data that showed that 4,736 active soldiers had filed for permanent religious exemptions from the vaccine as of June 23. Only 16 of those have been approved, and 1,185 have been denied.

As of June 23, the Army stated that 1,037 soldiers have been “separated” for refusing to receive the Covid vaccine.

Tuberville also cited a specific incident in February 2021 that he said “demoralized our men and women in uniform.”

In February 2021, Secretary of Defense Austin ordered the entire Department of Defense to stand down for one day and complete education and training on extremism. A work group was later developed in April to look further into the issue of extremism within the U.S. military, and the protocols and training materials were revised when the workforce released findings in December.

“This is an insult to the very people who pledge their lives to support and defend our country,” Tuberville said of the required anti-extremism training.

“Our military are not extremists; they are heroes.”

He said he believes the Biden administration is going about military recruiting in all the wrong ways, and that the withdrawal from Afghanistan is an important factor in the low recruiting numbers.

“American defeat and retreat does not inspire young people to sign up for our armed forces,” he said.

Tuberville joined other Republican Senators in calling out the Biden administration for trying to build a “woke Army.”

Diversity, equity, and inclusion training has been added to military curriculum and the ideas have been implemented in a series of army recruiting videos on YouTube.

Tuberville said these political ad campaigns are not helping inspire young recruits to enlist.

“We know what works: patriotism – pride in our country,” he said.

The Senator said he will continue to push for hearings regarding the issue. He serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Immigration

Nearly 300 suspected terrorists apprehended at U.S. border in 2023 alone

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2023

Sara Carter Staff

The border crisis in the United States is not simply about allowing individuals to enter the country illegally; it’s about national security and terrorism. In 2023 alone, roughly 300 suspected terrorists have been apprehended attempting to cross the border, according to newly reported Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) data. That terrifying number is of apprehensions, meaning an unknown number of terrorists may have been successful in evading border patrol.

28 members of Congress have recently formed an entirely new caucus in order to address the increasing crisis at the northern border, “where record numbers of foreign nationals continue to illegally enter from Canada” reports The Center Square.

The Northern Border Security Caucus, formed by Republican Representatives Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, and Ryan Zinke of Montana. The congressmen have expressed substantial concerns about “the increased human and drug trafficking, along with the decrease in Border Patrol agents and lack of security, along the U.S.-Canada border.”

In a letter sent to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, caucus members said the “surges in border encounters and drug smuggling coupled with the shortage of Border Patrol agents and lack of security measures place America’s northern border at serious risk.”

The letter also noted the record numbers of illegal entries along the northern border, including record apprehensions in Vermont and upstate New York. Additionally, reported deaths have been on the rise in northwest Minnesota.

Calling on Mayorkas to secure the border, the caucus warns that Border Patrol staffing at the northern border has remained flat since fiscal 2009, hovering around 2,000 agents tasked with patrolling some of the most difficult terrain. Despite being short-staffed, they recorded a 596% increase in drug seizures in fiscal 2022 from fiscal 2021. Since January 2021, they’re apprehensions have increased by a record 1,498%, the caucus says.