Would You Recommend Military Service as a Career?

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Julio Garcia, an enlistee in the U.S. Marine Corps, completes the Oath of Enlistment at Joint-Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Julio Garcia, an enlistee in the U.S. Marine Corps, raises his right hand and completes the Oath of Enlistment during an enlistment ceremony at Joint-Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on Dec. 10, 2019. (Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Gregorio/U.S. Marine Corps photo)

Earlier this month, national military nonprofit Blue Star Families released its 2023 survey results. Touted as the most comprehensive of its kind, the survey received 7,400 responses from service members, veterans and military family members.

Perhaps the most surprising finding? Just 32% of active-duty respondents said they would recommend military service to others -- a sharp decline of 23% from the 55% who said the same in 2016.

Against the backdrop of recruiting woes for nearly every branch and the reality that the military increasingly relies on recruits from military families to fill its manpower gap, this new statistic may point to increasing problems for the military's ability to recruit and retain in the near future.

So tell us: Would you recommend military service as a career? Why or why not? Send us your responses using the form below, and we'll publish your thoughts for a follow-up article.

Your personal information will not be shared, and your responses will only be used for editorial purposes.

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