Recruiting Crisis: Analysis of Navy Recruiting Deficiencies in 2022 and Beyond

Abstract

Fiscal Year 2022 was described by senior military officials as one of the most difficult recruiting years since the end of conscription service in 1973. All services within the Department of Defense struggled to achieve or failed to meet assigned accession goals in Fiscal Year 2022 and officials predict that Fiscal Year 2023 will pose an even bigger challenge due to year over year accession goal increases and the depletion of future accessions from delayed entry pools. This thesis identifies systemic and emergent challenges specific to the United States Navy recruiting mission. Countless studies have identified challenges such as national unemployment rate and other economic factors, rising obesity and other medical trends in the American population, and war-time actions or military operations as contributors to recruiting difficulties. Using a qualitative analysis approach, I provide an in-depth description of the Navy recruiting structure, analyze past literature to identify factors causing recruiting challenges, and compile responses gathered from interviews with Navy Talent Acquisition Group leaders from across the enterprise. The findings indicate that manpower deficiencies, advertising shortcomings, the job market, recruiting transformation, high school access, the political environment, and low propensity to serve are all contributors to recruiting struggles. Future analysis of policies to counteract these external factors is highly recommended.