DISILLUSIONED: Fewer military families are encouraging their children to serve, threatening one of the Pentagon's biggest recruiting resources.

Fewer military families are encouraging their children to serve, which is threatening the Pentagon's recruiting efforts. A survey found that only 32% of active-duty family respondents were likely to recommend military service to a young family member, a significant drop from 55% in 2016. This decline in encouragement is attributed to issues such as housing costs, extended time away from home, spouse employment, and low pay. The military is also facing negative press, concerns about mental health, and a lack of funding for repairs and renovations of living quarters. The services are trying to address the recruiting crisis by increasing visibility and recruiting efforts, but they are facing challenges in reaching their goals. [Extracted from the article]