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Military recruitment in Nebraska, U.S. is falling short of goals

STEVE LIEWER Omaha World-Herald Aug 23, 2022 Updated 11 hrs ago

OMAHA — Pvt. Jayden Day donned the patch of his new Nebraska Army National Guard unit last week, one of 11 freshly minted soldiers to take part in a ceremony signifying he is officially part of the Guard.

Encouraged by his girlfriend’s father as well his aunt and uncle — all National Guard soldiers — Day, 19, of Gretna, enlisted last year to become a motor vehicle mechanic, a career he also is pursuing in civilian life. ... Plus, he wanted to serve his country. ... “I’ll be doing the same thing, but the Army way,” he said.

The problem for the National Guard, and the military overall, is that there are not nearly enough Private Days out there. ... Military recruitment is in free fall — as bad as anything seen since the beginning of the all-volunteer force in 1973, experts say.

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