Why the US military is struggling to recruit Gen Z

The US military is facing a growing recruitment challenge as fewer young Americans are willing or able to enlist, while traditional ways of reaching them are rapidly breaking down.

Recruiters say phone calls, school visits, and mailing lists that once connected them to families now mostly lead to parents or dead ends.

At the same time, high schools vary widely in how much access they give recruiters, making outreach inconsistent and often difficult.

Experts warn that the problem is being worsened by long-term demographic shifts. A declining US birth rate means fewer 18-year-olds are entering the population each year, shrinking the pool of potential recruits even as military staffing needs remain the same.

Public polling also shows falling trust in the armed forces and declining interest in service among young people.

In response, lawmakers and military leaders are pushing new approaches. Congress has passed legislation aimed at improving recruiter access to schools, while the Pentagon has created a Recruitment Task Force to explore new tools and policies.

The military is also turning to social media and artificial intelligence to find young people who may be more open to serving.

But these efforts face legal and ethical limits, as federal law restricts how much data the military can collect on minors. Recruiters say the gap between civilian life and military culture continues to grow, making the task of persuading the next generation harder than ever.