Military Teen Experience Survey: Propensity and Work
Military service is often a family affair, with more than a quarter of the young people currently serving having a parent who also served. However, recent numbers indicate that the number of military families recommending the military lifestyle are decreasing. A recent Department of Defense (DoD) study estimates only 9% civilians aged 16-24 are planning on joining the military. In 2022, we found that 44% of our respondents were planning to serve. We continue to find the military-connected population has significantly greater propensity to serve than the wider population. Understanding why military-connected youth do or do not want to join is important regarding recruitment and retention, especially considering the recent recruitment concerns across all branches of service.
