Military recruitment: Difference between revisions

Across the world, a large majority of recruits to state [[armed forces]] and [[Violent non-state actor|non-state armed groups]] are male. The proportion of female personnel varies internationally; for example, it is approximately 3% in India,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2016/02/indias-military-to-allow-women-in-combat-roles/|title=India's Military to Allow Women in Combat Roles|last=Franz-Stefan Gady|work=The Diplomat|access-date=2017-12-11|language=en-US}}</ref> 10% in the UK,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-2017|title=UK armed forces biannual diversity statistics: 2017|last=UK, Ministry of Defence|website=www.gov.uk|date=30 November 2017 |language=en|access-date=2017-12-11}}</ref> 13% in Sweden,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/om-myndigheten/vara-varderingar/jamstalldhet-och-jamlikhet/historik/|title=Historik|last=Försvarsmakten|website=Försvarsmakten|language=sv-SE|access-date=2017-12-11}}</ref> 16% in the US,<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=http://www.usarec.army.mil/support/faqs.htm|title=Support Army Recruiting|last=US Army|date=2013|website=www.usarec.army.mil|access-date=2017-12-11|archive-date=2018-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109101909/http://www.usarec.army.mil/support/faqs.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> and 27% in South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16708:fact-file-sandf-regular-force-levels-by-race-a-gender-april-30-2011-&catid=79:fact-files&Itemid=159|title=Fact file: SANDF regular force levels by race & gender: April 30, 2011 {{!}} defenceWeb|last=Engelbrecht|first=Leon|website=www.defenceweb.co.za|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-12-11|date=2011-06-29}}</ref>

While many states do not recruit women for ground close [[combat]] roles (i.e. roles which would require them to kill an opponent at [[Close quarters combat|close quarters]]), several have lifted this ban in recent years, including larger [[Western world|Western military powers]] such as France, the UK, and US.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/01/25/map-which-countries-allow-women-in-front-line-combat-roles/|title=Map: Which countries allow women in front-line combat roles?|last=Fisher|first=Max|date=2013-01-25|worknewspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2017-12-11|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ban-on-women-in-ground-close-combat-roles-lifted|title=Ban on women in ground close combat roles lifted|last=UK, Ministry of Defence|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-12-11}}</ref>

Compared with male personnel and female civilians, female personnel face substantially higher risks of [[Sexual harassment in the military|sexual harassment]] and [[Military sexual trauma (United States armed forces)|sexual violence]], according to British, Canadian, and US research.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/446224/ADR005000-Sexual_Harassment_Report.pdf|title=British Army: Sexual Harassment Report|last=UK, Ministry of Defence|date=2015|access-date=2017-12-11}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-603-x/85-603-x2016001-eng.htm|title=Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces, 2016|last=Canada, Statcan [official statistics agency]|date=2016|website=www.statcan.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2017-12-11}}</ref><ref name="Marshall 862–876">{{Cite journal|last1=Marshall|first1=A|last2=Panuzio|first2=J|last3=Taft|first3=C|title=Intimate partner violence among military veterans and active duty servicemen|journal=Clinical Psychology Review|language=en|volume=25|issue=7|pages=862–876|doi=10.1016/j.cpr.2005.05.009|pmid=16006025|year=2005}}</ref>

=== Age group ===

{{Main|Children in the military}}
Under the [[Convention on the Rights of the Child]], a child means a person aged under 18.

The hope of escaping [[Socio-economic gap|socio-economic deprivation]] is one of the main reasonsfactors thatattracting young people are attracted to military employment.<ref name=":02"/><ref name=":62">{{Cite web|url= https://www.unicef.org/publications/index_49985.html|title= Machel Study 10-Year Strategic Review: Children and conflict in a changing world|website= UNICEF|access-date= 2017-12-08|archive-date= 2017-12-09|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171209100213/https://www.unicef.org/publications/index_49985.html|url-status= dead}}</ref>&nbsp;For example,(Thus afterthe obsolete English-language term "bezonian" may mean "raw recruit" or "pauper".<ref>{{oed | bezonian}}</ref>) After the US suspended conscription in 1973, '"the military disproportionately attracted African American men, men from lower-status socioeconomic backgrounds, men who had been in nonacademic high school programs, and men whose high school grades tended to be low'".<ref name=":42">{{Cite journal|last=Segal, D R|display-authors=etal|date=1998|title=The all-volunteer force in the 1970s|jstor= 42863796|journal= Social Science Quarterly|volume= 72 |issue= 2|pages= 390–411}}</ref> However, a 2020 study suggests that the socio-economic status of [[United States Armed Forces|U.S. Armed Forces]] personnel's socio-economic status areis at parity with or slightly higher than the civilian population and that the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups are less likely to meet the requirements of the modern U.S. military. A study found tothat technological, tactical, operational and doctrinal changes have led to a change in the demand for personnel.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1= Asoni|first1= Andrea|last2= Gilli |first2= Andrea|last3= Gilli|first3= Mauro|last4= Sanandaji|first4= Tino|date= 2020-01-30|title= A mercenary army of the poor? Technological change and the demographic composition of the post-9/11 U.S. military|journal=Journal of Strategic Studies|volume=0 45|issue= 4|pages=1–47568–614|doi=10.1080/01402390.2019.1692660|issn=0140-2390|doi-access=free}}</ref> As an indication of the socio-economic background of [[British Army]] personnel, in{{as of | 2015 | lc = on}} three-quarters of its youngest recruits had the [[literacy]] skills normally expected of an 11-year-old or younger, and 7% had a reading age of 5–7.<ref name=":102">{{Cite journal|last1= Gee|first1= David|last2= Taylor|first2= Rachel|date= 2016-11-01|title= Is it Counterproductive to Enlist Minors into the Army?|journal=The RUSI Journal|volume=161|issue=6|pages=36–48|doi= 10.1080/03071847.2016.1265837|s2cid=157986637|issn=0307-1847}}</ref> The British Army's recruitment drive in 2017 targeted working-class families with an average annual income of £10,000.<ref name="Morris">{{Cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/09/british-army-is-targeting-working-class-young-people-report-shows |title= British army is targeting working-class young people, report shows|last= Morris|first= Steven|date= 2017-07-09|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-12-08|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Recruitment for [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]] typically draws on [[Upwardly mobile|upwardly-mobile]] young adults from age 18, and recruiters for these roles focus their resources on high-achieving schools and universities.<ref name=":42"/><ref>{{Cite journal|last1= Bachman|first1= Jerald G.|last2= Segal|first2= David R.|last3= Freedman-Doan|first3= Peter|last4= O'Malley|first4= Patrick M.|title= Who chooses military service? Correlates of propensity and enlistment in the U.S. Armed Forces. |journal= Military Psychology|language= en|volume= 12|issue= 1|pages= 1–30|doi= 10.1207/s15327876mp1201_1|year=2000|s2cid=143845150}}</ref> (Canada is an exception, recruiting high-achieving children from age 16 for officer training.<ref>
{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmrsj-rmcsj.forces.gc.ca/fe-fs/adm/adm-eng.asp|title=Admission - Futurs Students - Royal Military College Saint-Jean|last=Saint-Jean|first= Departement of National Defence, Chief Military Personnel, Canadian Defence Academy, Royal Military College |website= www.cmrsj-rmcsj.forces.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2017-12-08|date=2015-05-12}}
</ref>)

The process of attracting children and young people to military employment begins in their early years. In Germany, Israel, Poland, the UK, the US, and elsewhere, the armed forces visit schools frequently, including primary schools, to encourage children to enlist once they become old enough to do so.<ref name=":92">{{Cite book|title=Opinion of the Commission for Children's Concerns on the relationship between the military and young people in Germany|last=Germany, Bundestag Commission for Children's Concerns|year=2016}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Adela|title=Teaching war|date=2016-11-03|url=https://vimeo.com/190069406|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref><ref name="New Profile 2004">{{Cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=http://new.newprofile.org/sites/default/files/infokits/english.pdf|title=The New Profile Report on Child Recruitment in Israel|last=New Profile|date=2004|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web |urlauthor1=http://www.informedchoice.org.uk/armyvisitstoschools.pdfGee, D |author2=Goodman, A |title=Army visits London's poorest schools most often|author1=Gee, D|author2url=Goodman,http://www.informedchoice.org.uk/armyvisitstoschools.pdf A|accessurl-datestatus=2017-12-10dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529080003/http://www.informedchoice.org.uk/armyvisitstoschools.pdf |archive-date=2018-05-29 |urlaccess-statusdate=dead2017-12-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hagopian|first1=Amy|last2=Barker|first2=Kathy|date=2011|title=Should We End Military Recruiting in High Schools as a Matter of Child Protection and Public Health?|journal=American Journal of Public Health|volume=101|issue=1|pages=19–23|doi=10.2105/AJPH.2009.183418|issn=0090-0036|pmc=3000735|pmid=21088269}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=http://www.usarec.army.mil/im/formpub/rec_pubs/man3_01.pdf|title=Recruiter Handbook|last=US Army|access-date=2017-12-10|archive-date=2018-02-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219031556/http://www.usarec.army.mil/im/formpub/rec_pubs/man3_01.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-107publ110/html/PLAW-107publ110.htm|title=No Child Left Behind Act (2001) (Section 9528)|last=US Government|date=2001|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref> For example, a poster used by the [[Bundeswehr|German armed forces]] in schools reads: "After school you have the world at your feet, make it safer." ["''Nach der Schule liegt dir die Welt zu Füßen, mach sie sicherer''."]<ref name=":92"/> In the US, recruiters have right of access to all schools and to the contact details of students,<ref name=":11" /> and are encouraged to embed themselves into the school community.<ref name=":10" /> A former head of recruitment for the [[British Army]], Colonel (latterly Brigadier) David Allfrey, explained the British approach in 2007:<blockquote>Our new model is about raising awareness, and that takes a ten-year span. It starts with a seven-year-old boy seeing a [[Parachuting|parachutist]] at an [[air show]] and thinking, 'That looks great.' From then the army is trying to build interest by drip, drip, drip.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2007/02/british-army-recruitment-iraq|title=Britain's child army|last=Armstrong|first=S|website=www.newstatesman.com|language=en|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref></blockquote>

Recruiters use [[action film]]s and [[Video game|videogames]] to promote military employment. Scenes from [[Hollywood blockbuster]]s (including ''[[Behind Enemy Lines (2001 film)|Behind Enemy Lines]]'' and ''[[X-Men: First Class]]'')<ref>{{Citation|last=BreezyVideos2|title=X-Men: First Class: TV Spot - Go Army (HD)|date=2011-05-20|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-OvnGgfwQc|access-date=2017-12-10}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=jsmmusic|title=U.S Navy "Behind Enemy Lines"|date=2015-01-15|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N7hnjPnZFI|access-date=2017-12-10}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> have been spliced into military advertising in the US, for example. In the US and elsewhere, the armed forces commission [[bespoke]] videogames to present military life to children and have created the [[U.S. Army Esports]] initiative as an outreach program using [[esports]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goarmy.com/downloads/games.html|title=Go Army|last=US Army|website=goarmy.com|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-23|title='The US military is using video games and esports to recruit – it's downright immoral'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/army-military-video-game-fortnite-battlegrounds-call-duty-esports-defence-a8648656.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/army-military-video-game-fortnite-battlegrounds-call-duty-esports-defence-a8648656.html |archive-date=2022-05-14 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2020-07-24|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref>

Many states operate military schools, cadet forces, and other military youth organisations. For example, Russia operates a system of military schools for children from age 10, where [[combat]] skills and [[Weapons Training|weapons training]] are taught as part of the curriculum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CRC/C/OPAC/RUS/CO/1&Lang=en|title=Concluding observations on the report submitted by the Russian Federation under article 8, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict|last=Committee on the Rights of the Child|date=2014|website=tbinternet.ohchr.org|language=en-us|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref> The UK is one of many states that subsidise participation in [[Army Cadet Force|cadet forces]], where children from age 12 play out a stylised representation of military employment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armycadets.com/join-cadets/|title=Join the Army Cadets|last=UK, Army Cadet Force|website=armycadets.com|language=en|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref> The United States offers [[Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] to high school students as an extracurricular activity.

Armed forces commission recruitment advertising across a wide range of media, including television,<ref>{{Citation|last=sairagon1988|title=Russian Army Commercial|date=2011-11-11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYxeGb3pXzk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/tYxeGb3pXzk |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-12-10}}{{cbignore}}</ref> radio,<ref>{{Citation|last=Radio Ads 24|title=British Army Radio Advert #1 (30 Seconds)|date=2017-09-03|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib-Q-QWA_Y0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Ib-Q-QWA_Y0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-12-10}}{{cbignore}}</ref> cinema,<ref>{{Citation|last=adsoftheworldvideos|title=Royal Navy: Made in the Royal Navy - Born in Carslile|date=2014-12-27|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12WqvFPulqw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/12WqvFPulqw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-12-10}}{{cbignore}}</ref> online including social media,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/armeedeterre?lang=en|title=Armée de Terre (@armeedeterre) {{!}} Twitter|website=twitter.com|language=en|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref> the press, billboards,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://porteradsblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/air-force.jpg|title=US Air Force billboard [image]|last=US Air Force|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref> brochures and leaflets,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/Meet_The_Army.pdf|title=Meet the army: A guide for parents, partners and friends|last=British Army|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903011549/http://army.mod.uk/documents/general/Meet_The_Army.pdf|archive-date=2014-09-03|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref> [[Employment website]]s and through [[merchandising]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toys-Games-HM-Armed-Forces/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n:468292,p_n_featured_character_browse-bin:368014031|title=Amazon.co.uk: HM Armed Forces: Toys & Games|website=www.amazon.co.uk|access-date=2017-12-10}}</ref>

* '''Traditionally masculine associations.''' Historically and today, recruitment materials frequently associate military life with that of a traditionally [[Masculinity|masculine]] [[warrior]], which is officially encouraged as a martial ideal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/publications/docs/LCIreport.pdf|title=Final report of the Learning Culture Inquiry|last=Australia, Department of Defence|date=2006|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/605298/Army_Field_Manual__AFM__A5_Master_ADP_Interactive_Gov_Web.pdf|title=Army Doctrine Publications: Operations|last=UK, British Army|date=2010|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/values/warrior.html|title=Warrior Ethos - Army Values|last=US Army|website=www.army.mil|language=en|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref> For example, [[Cold War]] [[United States Army|US Army]] [[slogan]]s included "Join the army, Be a man" and "The army will make a man out of you";<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Arkin|first1=William|last2=Dobrofsky|first2=Lynne R.|date=1978-01-01|title=Military Socialization and Masculinity|journal=Journal of Social Issues|language=en|volume=34|issue=1|pages=151–168|doi=10.1111/j.1540-4560.1978.tb02546.x|issn=1540-4560}}</ref> in 2007 a new slogan was introduced: "There’sThere's strong. Then there’sthere's army strong".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/aps/08/information_papers/sustain/Army_Strong.html|title=2008 U.S. Army Posture Statement - Information Papers - Army Strong: New Army Recruiting Campaign|last=US Army|date=2007|website=www.army.mil|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref> Similarly, recruiters describe the Israeli infantryman as "discovering all your strengths";<ref name="shaharTV">{{Citation|last=shaharTV|title=IDF Commercial|date=2011-06-17|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxrlwG8_LIo|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref> the Russian is "beyond fear";<ref>{{Citation|last=Russia Insider|title=Russian army recruitment video with interesting narration|date=2015archive-06-18|url=https://wwwghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube.com/watch?v20211221/kxrlwG8_LIo |archive-date=nrxgAwuKxec2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-12-13}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the British is "harder, faster, fitter, stronger".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Army Life: Your Guide to the Infantry|last=UK, Army Recruiting and Training Division|publisher=UK, Ministry of Defence|year=2013}}</ref>

* '''Education and skills.''' The armed forces are often presented as a means to learn new skills.<ref name=":15">{{Citation|last=A. Enderborgesas|title=Swedish Recruitment Ad "Welcome to Our Reality"|date=2011-04-08|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AprqomTW-Wo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/AprqomTW-Wo |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2017-12-13}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/caf-jobs/education-benefits.html|title=Paid education and other benefits|last=Canada, National Defence|website=www.canada.ca|language=en|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref> For example, the Swedish armed forces encourage potential recruits with the promise of "education that leads to a job where you can make a difference".<ref name=":15" />

Many eligibility criteria normally apply, which may be related to age, nationality, height and weight ([[body mass index]]), [[medical history]], [[Psychiatry|psychiatric]] history, illicit [[DrugSubstance userabuse|drug use]], [[criminal record]], [[Academic achievement|academic results]], [[Identity document|proof of identity]], satisfactory references, and whether any [[tattoo]]s are visible. A minimum standard of academic attainment may be required for entry, for certain technical roles, or for entry to train for a leadership position as a [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned officer]]. Candidates who meet the criteria will normally also undergo [[Aptitude|aptitude test]], [[medical examination]], psychological interview, job interview and fitness assessment.

Recruits enter a binding [[contract]] of service, which for full-time personnel typically requires a minimum period of service of several years,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Army - Artillery - Air Defender|url=https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/jobs/army/air-defence-operator|urlarchive-statusurl=live|https://web.archive.org/web/20180319164323/https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/jobs/Army/air-defence-operator|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 19, 2018|access-date=2017-12-09|website=army.defencejobs.gov.au|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=February 2021|bot=Dlmarial|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref name=":102"/><ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=http://military.findlaw.com/administrative-issues-benefits/what-is-a-military-enlistment-contract.html|title=What is a Military Enlistment Contract?|work=Findlaw|access-date=2017-12-09}}</ref> with the exception of a short [[Military discharge|discharge]] window, near the beginning of their service, allowing them to leave the armed force as of right.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/3382/contents/made|title=The Army Terms of Service Regulations 2007|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2017-12-09}}</ref> Part-time military employment, known as [[Military reserve force|reserve service]], allows a recruit to maintain a civilian job while training under military discipline for a minimum number of days per year. After leaving the armed forces, for a fixed period (between four and six years is normal in the UK and US, for example<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":6" />), former recruits may remain liable for compulsory return to full-time military employment in order to train or [[Military operation|deploy on operations]].

* The opinionview that military organizations provide a valuable public service.

* TheAnecdotal opinionevidence that dutymilitary ofemployment carebenefits policiesyoung protect recruits from harmpeople.<ref name=":112">{{Cite web |last=Hansard |date=2016 |title=Armed Forces Bill 2016 (col. 1211) |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2016-04-27/debates/0062984F-41E4-49A7-8471-E7381998CF8F/ArmedForcesBill|title=Armed Forces Bill 2016 (col. 1210)|last=Hansard|access-date=20162017-12-13 |website=hansard.parliament.uk |language=en|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref>

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From the times of the [[British Raj]], recruitment in India has been voluntary. Using [[Martial Race]] theory, the British recruited heavily from selected communities for service in the colonial army.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/compulsory-military-service-could-be-an-option-in-future/416902/ |title=Archived'Compulsory copymilitary service could be an option in future' - Express India |access-date=2009-10-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930181107/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/compulsory-military-service-could-be-an-option-in-future/416902/ |archive-date=2012-09-30 }}</ref> The largest of the colonial military forces the [[British Indian Army]] of the British Raj until [[Partition of India|Military of India]], was a volunteer army, raised from the native population with British officers. The Indian Army served both as a security force in India itself and, particularly during the World Wars, in other theaters. About 1.3 million men served in the [[First World War]]. During World War II, the British Indian Army would become the largest [[Volunteer military|volunteer]] army in history, rising to over 2.5 million men in August 1945.<ref name="CWrepdirect">{{cite web|url=http://www.cwgc.org/admin/files/cwgc_india.pdf|title=Commonwealth War Graves Commission Report on India 2007–2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618081321/http://www.cwgc.org/admin/files/cwgc_india.pdf|archive-date=2010-06-18|url-status=dead|access-date=2009-09-07}}</ref>

In the [[aftermath of World War II]] military recruitment shifted significantly. With no war calling men and women to duty, the United States refocused its recruitment efforts to present the military as a career option, and as a means of achieving a higher education. A majority – 55% – of all recruitment posters would serve this end. And though peacetime would not last, factors such as the move to an all-volunteer military would ultimately keep career-oriented recruitment efforts in place.<ref>Padilla, Peter A. and Mary Riege Laner. "Trends in Military Influences on Army Recruitment: 1915-1953." ''Sociological Inquiry'', Vol. 71, No. 4. Fall 2001421-36. Austin: University of Texas Press. Page 433</ref> The Defense Department turned to television syndication as a recruiting aid from 1957–19601957 to 1960 with a filmed show, ''[[Country Style, USA]]''.

On February 20, 1970, the [[Project VOLAR|President's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force]] unanimously agreed that the United States would be best served by an all-volunteer military. In supporting this recommendation, the committee noted that recruitment efforts would have to be intensified, as new enlistees would need to be ''convinced'' rather than ''conscripted''. Much like the post-World War II era, these new campaigns put a stronger emphasis on job opportunity. As such, the committee recommended "improved basic compensation and conditions of service, proficiency pay, and accelerated promotions for the highly skilled to make military career opportunities more attractive." These new directives were to be combined with "an intensive recruiting effort."<ref>The Report of the President's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1970. Page 18.</ref> Finalized in mid-1973, the recruitment of a "professional" military was met with success. In 1975 and 1976, military enlistments exceeded expectations, with over 365,000 men and women entering the military. Though this may, in part, have been the result of a lack of civilian jobs during the recession, it nevertheless stands to underline the ways in which recruiting efforts responded to the circumstances of the time.<ref>Bliven, Bruce Jr. ''Volunteers, One and All.'' New York: ReadersReader's Digest Press, 1976. {{ISBN|0-88349-058-7}}</ref>

Indeed, recommendations made by the President's Commission continue to work in present-day recruitment efforts. Understanding the need for greater individual incentive, the US military has re-packaged the benefits of the [[GI Bill]]. Though originally intended as compensation for service, the bill is now seen as a recruiting tool. Today, the GI Bill is "no longer a reward for service rendered, but an inducement to serve and has become a significant part of recruiter's pitches."<ref>White, John B. Lieutenant Commander, US Naval Reserve, Ph. D. "The GI Bill: Recruiting Bonus, Retention Onus." Military Review, July–August 2004.</ref>