US Army Recruitment Success Raises Questions for British Army's Approach

The US Army's Recruitment Success and Its Implications for Britain

The United States Army has experienced a surge in recruitment since Donald Trump's election as President. In contrast, the British Army continues to struggle with recruitment, falling short of its targets. This disparity has led some to suggest that Britain should follow the US Army's example.

The US Army's success is attributed to President Trump's clear messaging on issues like diversity and inclusion, as well as his disregard for international legal frameworks that could hamper military effectiveness. Trump has pledged to "get wokery the hell out of the military" and has selected both his defense secretary and Air Force undersecretary for their anti-woke credentials.

In contrast, the British Army has no set diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) targets. However, its Race Action Plan states that workshops should "unearth and interrupt unconscious (and conscious) biases" and "raise awareness of and discuss the issues e.g. race/identity, power and privilege." Additionally, the Army's Inclusive Behaviours guidance encourages personnel to introduce their pronouns.

Some have argued that the British Army's focus on DEI is contributing to its recruitment problems. They point to the fact that the US Army has eliminated diversity and inclusion groups within the military, which are said to chip away at its esprit de corps by emphasizing divisions.

Others argue that the British Army's struggles are due to other factors, such as the perception that the military is no longer a respected career choice. They also point to the fact that the British Army has been downsized in recent years, which has made it less attractive to potential recruits.

The debate over the British Army's recruitment problems is likely to continue. However, the US Army's success under President Trump suggests that there may be lessons that Britain can learn.