PENNSYLVANIA — Retired generals and admirals from the nonprofit organization Mission: Readiness, Brigadier General Laura McHugh of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and a bipartisan group of state lawmakers have released a new report on Monday highlighting the challenges faced by the military due to a shrinking workforce and ongoing skills gaps among youth.
The report, titled “We Need…All That They Can Be“, outlines how stiff competition for qualified individuals is leading to unprecedented military recruiting shortfalls and labor shortages in most employment sectors. The report calls for greater investment in the next generation to ensure future readiness.
According to the Department of Defense and Pennsylvania National Guard’s latest data, the U.S. military is experiencing what some describe as the “worst recruiting environment in the 50-year history of the all-volunteer military.” The U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force missed their active duty recruiting goals in FY 2023, with a combined shortfall of over 20,000 enlistees. The U.S. Coast Guard is short about 10 percent of its entire enlisted workforce, forcing it to adjust its 2024 operations plan. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard and Pennsylvania Air National Guard also fell short of their 2023 recruiting goals by almost 25% and over 45%, respectively.
The report mirrors concerns voiced by the private sector. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that there are currently 340,000 job openings in Pennsylvania, with only 82 available workers for every 100 open jobs. Educational and skill shortages could cost Pennsylvania’s economy over $66 billion in lost economic output by 2029.
Mission: Readiness calls for continued investment in early care and education programs, equitable K-12 funding for all Pennsylvania schools, and childhood nutrition programs. These are seen as crucial “pipeline” investments for future workforce and military readiness.
Despite the expansion of state funding over the past decade for high-quality pre-k programs like Pre-K Counts and Head Start, more than 87,000 eligible 3- and 4-year-olds still lack access. The report also highlights the role of high-quality child care in the development of young learners and encourages state policymakers to use the Department of Defense’s overhaul of the Military Child Care System as a model.
The report also identifies obesity as the leading medical disqualifier for military service and underscores the importance of access to fresh and nutritious food as a key part of the solution. The report points to the importance of universal school breakfasts and the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in this effort.
The findings of the report underline the urgent need for increased investment in Pennsylvania’s youth to ensure future workforce and military readiness.
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