DoD must ensure competitive benefits to attract recruits

[Brittany, “The Status of Military Recruiting and Retention Efforts Across the Department of Defense,” Veterans of Foreign Wars, September 21, 2022, https://www.vfw.org/advocacy/national-legislative-service/congressional-testimony/2022/9/the-status-of-military-recruiting-and-retention-efforts-across-the-department-of-defense, accessed June 21, 2023, gds-LL]

The DOD Fall 2021 Propensity Update data show that the inclination to serve among the nation’s youth is at a low not seen since 2007. Survey respondents indicated that the top three of ten reasons to serve are monetary compensation, having future education paid for, and travel opportunities. Conversely, the lowest reported factor was the desire to impact one’s community. Overall, eight out of the ten primary reasons to serve were individual, predominantly tangible benefits, while the remaining two reasons were intangible benefits rooted in altruism. Accordingly, while an ideal recruit might be drawn to the military out of a sense of duty and selfless service, most are attracted by the benefits of service that enable self-development and sustainment.

In consideration of the prevalent factors that attract recruits, the VFW believes Congress must ensure military benefits such as pay, health care, tuition assistance, and retirement are competitive with the private sector, continuously improved, and come without cost increases to members and families as applicable. The fact that DOD relies upon and regularly offers recruitment and retention bonuses to maintain its ranks indicates basic pay scales are not sufficiently attractive.