The job market is unrelated to recruitment---problems are chronic and deep-rooted.

The most frequently cited factor affecting military recruiting is the strength of the U.S. job market. Indeed, the joint force is subject to the laws of labor supply and demand just like any other large organization. Yet, some of our deepest challenges are chronic, indicating that the strength of the economy may be less critical than commonly thought. For example, the Marine Corps has struggled—in good economic times and bad—to produce and retain an adequate number of pilots, even for the newest, most modern aircraft. These struggles have persisted despite ever-increasing bonuses—further evidence that the decision to join or separate is not purely economic. The Air Force has faced similar difficulties, but on a much larger scale.