Declining Recruitment Rates in the US Army

The US Air Force has acknowledged the reluctance of recruits to join its ranks, especially among minorities.

The current situation is the result of repressive practices against demonstrators which came at the heels of the killing of African American citizen George Floyd.

The Air Force and other military branches are concerned about the decline not only of young new recruits, but also of the long-term survival of others in the armed forces, especially among the ranks of "black and Hispanic males, and women as well".

A study conducted by the Pentagon indicated a 2% decline in the rate of joining the ranks of the armed forces during the past two years. It also revealed that the rate of African American interest decreased from 20% in 2019 to 11% the following year, and fell again to 8% in the fall of 2020.

Floyd's death led to widespread protests in the US and abroad against the excessive use of force by the police against people of color, which was interspersed with acts of violence and the deployment of the US National Guard in a number of states.