Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has issued a warning that the U.S. military is “slowly dying” due to poor recruitment, which puts Americans “in danger.” “The armed services are struggling to meet their recruiting goals like rarely before,” Esper wrote in article published by Fox News on Sept. 19.
“The Army is the most affected, projected to fall short by up to 15,000 soldiers, with a larger deficit expected next year. Experts point to a variety of reasons, such as insufficient pay and benefits, a difficult work-life environment, ‘culture war’ issues, COVID-19, and a strong job market.”
While Esper didn’t elaborate on the “culture war” issues, some experts and armed service members have blamed the military’s left-wing lurch in recent years. One active-duty Army soldier, who asked to remain anonymous, fearing reprisals, told The Epoch Times last month that the military leaders “happily encourage mandated vaccines, back the transgender issue, and speak out in opposition to the Supreme Court of the United States in regard to Roe v. Wade—all of which are very political.”