This Is What You Get
In the decade after 9/11, the Department of Defense and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies rarely had problems filling their recruiting quotas. Even during “The Surge” when DoD had to get somewhat creative in their recruiting and retention methods because the demand was higher than normal, they still made mission.
Now, they are both in dire straits. Most of DoD missed their 2022 quota. The branches that did make quota had to dip into their pool of recruits for 2023, setting themselves back and ensuring they miss their quotas this year. The FBI isn’t faring any better. Neither is Border Patrol. Why do you think that is?
We’ve had a couple of poor administrations. The departure from Afghanistan was a disaster. The publicity of the “woke culture” that is invading the military. The daily disaster BPS encounters at our southern border while getting wrongfully accused of mistreatment of illegal border-crossers. The FBI being manipulated by their own leadership. It could be any, or all, of these things. But the average US citizen doesn't have the attention span to be bothered with most of this.
Really, this is the result of a solid five years of manipulation of our youth. And it’s multifaceted.
Defund the Police. It’s a campaign that goes beyond your local police department. All of law enforcement is being villainized in the process. That’s broad-spectrum messaging. And it’s working. Less recruits into collegiate law enforcement undergraduate programs equals less recruits for federal agencies. All because “cops are bad” messaging.
Body Positivity. It’s not only OK to be out of shape and overweight, you should be proud of it. And NO ONE should tell you otherwise. They are inhumane, horrible people if they criticize you. Be fat. Be proud. That eliminates a larger population of candidates due to poor physical fitness. Smaller recruiting pool for both law enforcement and military.
The United States is oppressive. Take a knee. Burn the flag. Sit down during the Pledge of Allegiance. These are the acts of heroes. Despising the United States is the accepted norm in large swaths of American youth. It’s not only being acknowledged, but encouraged, in a number of schools.
Working hard is for suckers. All you have to do is show up and you’re a winner. You’ll make the team because no one gets cut. All participants get a trophy. Minimum wage isn’t enough for a high school kid with zero qualifications, so don’t bother taking those jobs. Crime pays because no one gets arrested. You want it? Steal it. Tell them it’s all a protest. And if that doesn’t work? Someone is going to pay off your loan or you’ll get a check from the government. It’s all free, why work for it?
Social Media is real life. TikTok likes are currency. Followers are what matters. Influencers are your heroes. Wear their clothes. Follow their lives. Imitate them. Show your naked bits on Instagram and Snapchat so people will like you. You can message your friends, why bother talking to them? Or going outside? Everything you need is in your phone.
DEI Overload. Labels mean something. Even if you have to make them up. Tell everyone your pronouns. Make them use them. Get them fired if they don’t. Broadcast your acceptance of everything and everyone, unless they disagree with you and then cancel them. Division is everything. This is Socialism in disguise, by the way. Leading to Communism.
Is this every kid? Of course not. Is it enough to impact recruiting for DoD and Law Enforcement? Absolutely. Those organizations operate on such thin margins for recruitment and retention, it doesn’t take much to upset the proverbial applecart. This is also what I like to call a self-licking ice cream cone. The more it works, the more it works.
In the modern military, and similarly in law enforcement, it is rare to find a young servicemember that doesn’t have an extended family member that served, let alone a parent or sibling. They are family businesses. Three, four, even five generations will serve as a matter of tradition. Those ties are starting to break as well. Those of us that served, seeing the current state of the country, are less likely to encourage our kids to follow in our footsteps. I know I won’t stop my son from serving, but I’m damn sure not pushing him.
After five solid years (or more) of campaigning and influencing our children, our military and law enforcement are faltering. If you can’t defund them and you can’t get rid of them…discourage people from joining. Directly or indirectly. And it’s working.
So, after all that…This Is What You Get.