Military recruitment refers to the activity of attracting people to, and selecting them for,
military training and
employment.
Demographics
Gender
Across the world, a large majority of recruits to state
armed forces and
non-state armed groups are male. The proportion of female personnel varies internationally; for example, it is approximately 3% in India, 10% in the UK, 13% in Sweden, 16% in the US,
and 27% in South Africa.
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), several have lifted this ban in recent years, including larger
Western military powers such as France, the UK, and US.
Compared with male personnel and female civilians, female personnel face substantially higher risks of
sexual harassment and
sexual violence
Sexual violence is any sexual act or attempt to obtain a sexual act by violence or coercion, act to traffic a person, or act directed against a person's sexuality, regardless of the relationship to the victim.World Health Organization., World re ...
, according to British, Canadian, and US research.
Some states, including the UK, US and Canada have begun to recognise a right of
transgender people
This list consists of many notable people who are transgender. The individual listings note the subject's nationality and main occupation.
In some non-Western, ancient or medieval societies, transgender people may be seen as a different gend ...
to serve openly in their armed forces, although this development has met with political and cultural resistance.
Age
State armed forces set minimum and maximum ages for recruitment. In practice, most military recruits are young adults; for example, in 2013 the average age of a
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
soldier beginning
initial training was 20.7 years.
Child recruitment
Under the
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (commonly abbreviated as the CRC or UNCRC) is an international human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children. The Co ...
, a child means a person aged under 18.
The minimum age at which children may be recruited or conscripted under the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is 15. States which have ratified the
(OPAC) may not conscript children at all, but may enlist children aged 16 or above provided that they are not used to participate directly in hostilities.
Historically, the use of children for military purposes has been widespread—see
Children in the military
Children (defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child as people under the age of 18) have been recruited for participation in military operations and campaigns throughout history and in many cultures.
Children in the military, inclu ...
—but has been in decline in the 21st century.
According to
Child Soldiers International
Child Soldiers International, formerly the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, was a UK-based non-governmental organization that worked to prevent the recruitment, use and exploitation of children by armed forces and groups. As of 7 June ...
, as of 2017 approximately two-thirds of states worldwide had committed to restrict military recruitment to adults from age 18, and at least 60
non-state armed groups had signed agreements to stop or reduce the use of children for military purposes.
The organization reported that the so-called ''Straight 18'' standard – the restriction of all military employment to adults – had been emerging as a global norm since 2001.
However, Child Soldiers International also reported in 2018 that at least 46 states were recruiting personnel below the age of 18. Most of these states were recruiting from age 17, including Australia, China, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the United States (US); approximately 20 were recruiting from age 16, including Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom (UK).
Most states which recruit children under the age of 18 have undertaken not to deploy them routinely on
military operation
A military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state, or a non-state actor, in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state or actor's favor. Operations ma ...
s, having ratified the
OPAC treaty.
According to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations
The secretary-general of the United Nations (UNSG or SG) is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and head of the United Nations Secretariat, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
The role of the secretary-g ...
(UNSG), in 2016 14 states were still recruiting and using children in active armed conflicts: Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The UNSG also reported that
non-state armed groups were recruiting and using children in armed conflict in India, Pakistan, Palestine, Libya, Philippines and Thailand.
Cross-cultural studies suggest that, in general, children and young people are drawn to military employment for similar reasons: war, economic motivation, education, family and friends, politics, and identity and psychosocial factors.
[Brett, Rachel, and Irma Specht. Young Soldiers: Why They Choose to Fight. Boulder: ]Lynne Rienner Publishers
Lynne Rienner Publishers is an independent scholarly and textbook publishing firm based in Boulder, CO. It was founded in 1984 and remains one of the few independent publishers in the US.
It publishes primarily in the fields of international stu ...
, 2004.
Socio-economic background
The hope of escaping
socio-economic deprivation is one of the main factors attracting young people to military employment.
(Thus the obsolete English-language term "bezonian" may mean "raw recruit" or "pauper".) 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".
However, a 2020 study suggests that the socio-economic status of
U.S. Armed Forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...
personnel is 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 that technological, tactical, operational and doctrinal changes have led to a change in the demand for personnel. As an indication of the socio-economic background of
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
personnel, three-quarters of its youngest recruits had the
literacy
Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, hum ...
skills normally expected of an 11-year-old or younger, and 7% had a reading age of 5–7.
The British Army's recruitment drive in 2017 targeted working-class families with an average annual income of £10,000.
Recruitment for
officers
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...
typically draws on
upwardly-mobile young adults from age 18, and recruiters for these roles focus their resources on high-achieving schools and universities.
(Canada is an exception, recruiting high-achieving children from age 16 for officer training.)
Outreach and marketing
Early years
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.
For example, a poster used by the
German armed forces
The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...
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,
and are encouraged to embed themselves into the school community.
A former head of recruitment for the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
, Colonel (latterly Brigadier) David Allfrey, explained the British approach in 2007:
Our new model is about raising awareness, and that takes a ten-year span. It starts with a seven-year-old boy seeing a parachutist at an air show and thinking, 'That looks great.' From then the army is trying to build interest by drip, drip, drip.
Popular culture
Recruiters use
action film
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include l ...
s and
videogames
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This feedback ...
to promote military employment. Scenes from
Hollywood blockbusters (including ''
Behind Enemy Lines'' and ''
X-Men: First Class'') 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
U.S. Army Esports is an esports team sponsored by the United States Army. The team, which consists of active duty and reserve personnel, was announced in November 2018 as a public outreach initiative operating within the Fort Knox, Kentucky-based ...
initiative as an outreach program using
esports.
Military schools and youth organisations
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 are taught as part of the curriculum. The UK is one of many states that subsidise participation in
cadet forces, where children from age 12 play out a stylised representation of military employment. The United States offers
Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC -- commonly pronounced "JAY-rotsee") is a Federal government of the United States, federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools acr ...
to high school students as an extracurricular activity.
Advertising
Armed forces commission recruitment advertising across a wide range of media, including television, radio, cinema, online including social media, the press, billboards, brochures and leaflets,
Employment website
An employment website is a website that deals specifically with employment or careers. Many employment websites are designed to allow employers to post job requirements for a position to be filled and are commonly known as job boards. Other emp ...
s and through
merchandising.
Public realm
Recruiters use civic space to promote their military organisation. Among the methods used are recruitment stalls in public spaces,
air shows; military
amusement parks, such as
Patriot Park
Patriot Park (russian: Парк «Патриот») is a theme park in Kubinka, Russia that is themed around equipment of the Russian military. The park, which officially opened in 2016, is designed around a military theme, and includes interacti ...
in Russia; national days, such as the
Belgian national day
Belgian National Day ( nl, Nationale feestdag van België; french: Fête nationale belge; german: Belgischer Nationalfeiertag) is the national holiday of Belgium commemorated annually on 21 July. It is one of the country's ten public holidays a ...
and
military parade
A military parade is a formation of soldiers whose movement is restricted by close-order manoeuvering known as drilling or marching. The military parade is now almost entirely ceremonial, though soldiers from time immemorial up until the la ...
; and annual
armed forces days
Armed (May, 1941–1964) was an American Thoroughbred gelding race horse who was the American Horse of the Year in 1947 and Champion Older Male Horse in both 1946 and 1947. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in ...
.
Messaging
Recruitment marketing seeks to appeal to potential recruits in the following ways:
* Traditionally masculine associations. Historically and today, recruitment materials frequently associate military life with that of a traditionally
masculine warrior
A warrior is a person specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracies, class, or caste.
History
Warriors seem to have be ...
, which is officially encouraged as a martial ideal. For example,
Cold War US Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
slogans included "Join the army, Be a man" and "The army will make a man out of you"; in 2007 a new slogan was introduced: "There's strong. Then there's army strong". Similarly, recruiters describe the Israeli infantryman as "discovering all your strengths";
and the British is "harder, faster, fitter, stronger".
* Teamwork and belonging. Some armed forces appeal to potential recruits with the promise of teamwork and camaraderie. An example is the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
, which introduced the slogan "This is belonging" in 2017.
* Patriotic service. Some armed forces present military life as a patriotic service. For example, the slogan for the German ''
Bundeswehr
The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...
'' is "We. Serve. Germany."
Wir. Dienen. Deutschland." and an advertisement for the
Israeli Defense Forces
Israeli may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the State of Israel
* Israelis, citizens or permanent residents of the State of Israel
* Modern Hebrew, a language
* ''Israeli'' (newspaper), published from 2006 to 2008
* Guni Israeli (b ...
encourages potential recruits to "Above all, fight
'kravi''for your country, because there is no place better than Israel."
* Challenge and adventure. Military life is promised to be exciting, including world travel and adventurous training. In 2015, the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
presentation to schools included prominent images of scuba diving and snowboarding, for example.
* Education and skills. The armed forces are often presented as a means to learn new skills.
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".
Application process
Typically, candidates for military employment apply online or at a recruitment centre.
Many eligibility criteria normally apply, which may be related to age, nationality, height and weight (
body mass index),
medical history
The medical history, case history, or anamnesis (from Greek: ἀνά, ''aná'', "open", and μνήσις, ''mnesis'', "memory") of a patient is information gained by a physician by asking specific questions, either to the patient or to other peo ...
,
psychiatric
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions. See glossary of psychiatry.
Initial psy ...
history, illicit
drug use,
criminal record
A criminal record, police record, or colloquially RAP sheet (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions) is a record of a person's criminal history. The information included in a criminal record and the existence of a criminal record varies between coun ...
,
academic results,
proof of identity
An identity document (also called ID or colloquially as papers) is any document that may be used to prove a person's identity. If issued in a small, standard credit card size form, it is usually called an identity card (IC, ID card, citizen ca ...
, satisfactory references, and whether any
tattoo
A tattoo is a form of body modification made by inserting tattoo ink, dyes, and/or pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. Tattoo artists create these designs using several tattooing ...
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
commissioned officer. Candidates who meet the criteria will normally also undergo
aptitude test
An examination (exam or evaluation) or test is an educational assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics (e.g., beliefs). A test may be administered verba ...
,
medical examination
In a physical examination, medical examination, or clinical examination, a medical practitioner examines a patient for any possible medical signs or symptoms of a medical condition. It generally consists of a series of questions about the patie ...
, psychological interview, job interview and fitness assessment.
Depending on whether the application criteria are met, and depending also on which military units have vacancies for new recruits, candidates may or may not be offered a job in a certain role or roles. Candidates who accept a job offer then wait for their
recruit training
Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique deman ...
to begin. Either at or before the start of their training, candidates swear or affirm an
oath of allegiance and/or sign their joining papers.
The period between the initial application to swearing the oath may be several weeks or months. During this time many candidates drop out. For example, in 2017 about 1 in 20 applicants to the British Army were eventually enlisted.
Most state armed forces that enlist
minors (persons under the age of 18) are required by law to obtain the
informed consent of one or both parents or
legal guardians before their child's enlistment can take place. In practice, consent is indicated on a form, which parents/guardians sign.
Once enlistment has taken place, recruits are subject to military terms of service and begin their
initial training.
Terms of service
Recruits enter a binding
contract
A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tr ...
of service, which for full-time personnel typically requires a minimum period of service of several years,
with the exception of a short
discharge window, near the beginning of their service, allowing them to leave the armed force as of right.
Part-time military employment, known as
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
), former recruits may remain liable for compulsory return to full-time military employment in order to train or
deploy on operations.
From the point of their enlistment/commissioning, personnel become subject to
military law
Military justice (also military law) is the legal system (bodies of law and procedure) that governs the conduct of the active-duty personnel of the armed forces of a country. In some nation-states, civil law and military law are distinct bodie ...
, which introduces offences not recognised by civilian courts, such as disobedience. Penalties range from a summary
reprimand
A reprimand is a severe, formal or official reproof. Reprimanding takes in different forms in different legal systems. A reprimand in custody may be a formal legal action issued by a government agency or professional governing board (e.g. medical ...
to imprisonment for several years following a
court martial
A court-martial or court martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of memb ...
.
Personnel may be posted to bases in their home country or overseas, according to operational need, and may be deployed from those bases on
exercises
Exercise is a body activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness.
It is performed for various reasons, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardiovascular system, hone athletic s ...
or
operations anywhere in the world.
Perks of military service typically include adventurous training; subsidised accommodation, meals and travel; and a
pension. Some armed forces also subsidise recruits' education before, during and/or after military service, subject to conditions such as an obligatory minimum period of formal military employment; examples are the
St Jean military college in Canada, the
Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College
Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College (stylised as Welbeck – The Defence Sixth Form College), formerly named and often referred to as simply Welbeck College, was an independent, selective sixth form college in Leicestershire, England. While run a ...
in the UK, and the
GI Bill arrangements in the US.
Counter-recruitment
Counter-recruitment refers to activity opposing military recruitment, or aspects of it. Among its forms are
political advocacy
Advocacy is an activity by an individual or group that aims to influence decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to influence public policy, laws and budgets by using facts ...
,
consciousness-raising, and
direct action. The rationale for counter-recruitment activity may be based on any of the following reasons:
* The view that war is immoral (see
pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition or resistance to war, militarism (including conscription and mandatory military service) or violence. Pacifists generally reject theories of Just War. The word ''pacifism'' was coined by the French peace campaign ...
) or that military organizations are a tool of
imperialism (see
anti-imperialism).
* Evidence that
bullying,
harassment and
sexual violence
Sexual violence is any sexual act or attempt to obtain a sexual act by violence or coercion, act to traffic a person, or act directed against a person's sexuality, regardless of the relationship to the victim.World Health Organization., World re ...
are more common in military organizations than elsewhere
(see, for example,
Women in the military
Women have served in the military in many different roles in various jurisdictions throughout history. Women in many countries are no longer excluded from some types of combat missions such as piloting, mechanics, and infantry officer. Since 1 ...
and
Sexual orientation and gender identity in military service
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) personnel are able to serve in the armed forces of some countries around the world: the vast majority of industrialized, Western countries including some South American countries such as A ...
).
* Evidence that military training and employment lead to higher rates of mental health and behavioural problems than are usually found in civilian life, particularly after personnel have left the armed forces.
* Evidence that recruiters capitalise on there being a lack of other career options for
socio-economically deprived young people,
and obscure the risks of military employment.
* The fact that some armed forces rely on children aged 16 or 17 to fill their ranks, and evidence that these youngest recruits are most likely to be adversely affected by the demands and risks of military life.
Armed forces spokespeople have defended the ''status quo'' by recourse to the following:
* The opinion that military organizations provide a valuable public service.
*
Anecdotal evidence that military employment benefits young people.
* The opinion that duty of care policies protect recruits from harm.
Recruitment slogans and images
Slogans
Armed forces have made effective use of short
slogans to inspire young people to enlist, with themes ranging from
personal development (particularly personal power), societal service, and
patriotic duty. For example, as of 2017 current slogans included:
* 'Live a Life Less Ordinary.' (
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...
)
* 'Army strong.' (
US Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
).
* 'Be the Best.' (
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
).
* 'Dare to be extraordinary.' (
Canadian armed forces).
* 'We. Serve. Germany.'
Wir. Dienen. Deutschland.'(
German armed forces
The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...
).
* 'For me, for others.'
Pour moi, pour les autres.'(
French Army
The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (french: Armée de Terre, ), is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces. It is responsible to the Government of France, along with the other components of the Armed Force ...
).
Posters
A recruitment poster is a
poster used in advertisement to
recruit __NOTOC__
Recruit can refer to:
Military
* Military recruitment
* Recruit training, in the military
* '' Rekrut'' (English: Recruit), a military recruit or low rank in German-speaking countries
* Seaman recruit Books
*''Le Réquisitionnaire'' (E ...
people into an organization, and has been a common method of military recruitment.
File:To Arms Confederate Enlistment Poster 1862.jpg, "To Arms! To Arms!" Recruitment poster for Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States that existed from February 8, 1861, to May 9, 1865. The Confeder ...
. Floyd County, Virginia
Floyd County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,476. Its county seat is the town of Floyd. Floyd County is included in the Blacksburg- Christiansburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical ...
, 1862.
File:30a Sammlung Eybl Großbritannien. Alfred Leete (1882–1933) Britons (Kitchener) wants you (Briten Kitchener braucht Euch). 1914 (Nachdruck), 74 x 50 cm. (Slg.Nr. 552).jpg, A World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
recruitment poster featuring Lord Kitchener (British Minister of War
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
)
Image:J. M. Flagg, I Want You for U.S. Army poster (1917).jpg, J. M. Flagg's Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam (which has the same initials as ''United States'') is a common national personification of the federal government of the United States or the country in general. Since the early 19th century, Uncle Sam has been a popular symbol of ...
recruited soldiers for World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, and was revived in later wars. Based on the Kitchener poster
File:Howard Chandler Christy - Gee I wish I were a Man, I'd Join the Navy - Google Art Project.jpg, Recruiting poster made by and for the United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
c.1917
File:Indian Army World War I Hindi Recruitment Poster.jpg, "This Soldier Defends India" - An Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...
recruitment poster during World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
Image:New Names Canadian WW1 recruiting poster.jpg, A Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
World War I recruitment poster
Image:Australian WWI recruiting poster.jpg, An Australian World War I recruitment poster
File:Polish Army in France WWI recruitment poster.jpg, Recruitment poster for Polish Army
The Land Forces () are the land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 62,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military history stre ...
in France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
Image:Denikin poster.jpg, "Why aren't you in the army?" Volunteer Army
The Volunteer Army (russian: Добровольческая армия, translit=Dobrovolcheskaya armiya, abbreviated to russian: Добрармия, translit=Dobrarmiya) was a White Army active in South Russia during the Russian Civil War from ...
recruitment poster during the Russian Civil War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Russian Civil War
, partof = the Russian Revolution and the aftermath of World War I
, image =
, caption = Clockwise from top left:
{{flatlist,
*Soldiers ...
featuring Anton Denikin
Anton Ivanovich Denikin (russian: Анто́н Ива́нович Дени́кин, link= ; 16 December Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">O.S._4_December.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="nowiki/>Old Style and New St ...
.
File:Join the Army and See the World Art.IWMPST13502.jpg, British Army recruitment poster of the inter-war period
Recruitment centres
Image:Army Careers Oxford 20051022.jpg, A British Military recruitment centre in Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
Image:US Recruitment.jpg, A United States Military
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is th ...
recruiting station on Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment hub, and neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is formed by the junction of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street. Together with adjacent ...
, New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
Image:New Zealand Army recruiting station.JPG, A New Zealand Defence Force
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF; mi, Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa, "Line of Defence of New Zealand") are the armed forces of New Zealand. The NZDF is responsible for the protection of the national security of New Zealand and her realm, prom ...
recruiting office in Palmerston North
Palmerston North (; mi, Te Papa-i-Oea, known colloquially as Palmy) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatu Plains, the city is near the north bank of the ...
, New Zealand
In India
From the times of the
British Raj
The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent;
*
* it is also called Crown rule in India,
*
*
*
*
or Direct rule in India,
* Quote: "Mill, who was him ...
, recruitment in India has been voluntary. Using
Martial Race
Martial race was a designation which was created by army officials in British India after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, in which they classified each caste as belonging to one of two categories, the 'martial' caste and the 'non-martial' caste. ...
theory, the British recruited heavily from selected communities for service in the colonial army. The largest of the colonial military forces the
British Indian Army of the British Raj until
Military of India
The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India. It consists of three professional uniformed services: the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.—— Additionally, the Indian Armed Forces are supported by th ...
, 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
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. During World War II, the British Indian Army would become the largest
volunteer
Volunteering is a voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve ...
army in history, rising to over 2.5 million men in August 1945.
In the United Kingdom
During both world wars and a period after the second, military service was mandatory for at least some of the British population. At other times, techniques similar to those outlined above have been used. The most prominent concern over the years has been the minimum age for recruitment, which has been 16 for many years. This has now been raised to 18 in relation to combat operations. In recent years, there have been various concerns over the techniques used in (especially) army recruitment in relation to the portrayal of such a career as an enjoyable adventure.
In the United States
The American military has had recruiters since the time of the colonies in the 1700s. Today there are thousands of recruiting stations across the United States, serving the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force. Recruiting offices normally consist of 2–8 recruiters between the ranks of E-5 and E-7. When a potential applicant walks into a recruiting station his or her height and weight are checked and their background investigated. A fingerprint scan is conducted and a practice ASVAB exam is given to them. Applicants cannot officially swear their enlistment oath in the recruiting office. This is conducted at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS).
Wartime recruitment strategies in the US
Prior to the outbreak of World War I, military recruitment in the US was conducted primarily by individual states.
[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 423] Upon entering the war, however, the federal government took an increased role.
The increased emphasis on a national effort was reflected in World War I recruitment methods. Authors Peter A. Padilla and Mary Riege Laner define six basic appeals to these recruitment campaigns:
patriotism, job/career/education, adventure/challenge,
social status, travel, and miscellaneous. Between 1915 and 1918, 42% of all army recruitment posters were themed primarily by patriotism.
And though other themes – such as adventure and greater social status – would play an increased role during World War II recruitment, appeals to serve one's country remained the dominant selling point.
Recruitment without conscription
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. The Defense Department turned to television syndication as a recruiting aid from 1957 to 1960 with a filmed show, ''
Country Style, USA''.
On February 20, 1970, the
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." 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.
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."
While uniformed military recruiters screen and process recruits into the military, advertising agencies design and implement military recruitment strategy, campaigns, and advertisements: As of fiscal year 2020, Young & Rubicam was in charge of this for the Navy, Wunderman Thompson for the Marine Corps, DBB Chicago for the Army, and GSD&M for the Air Force.
Recruiting methods
Recruitment can be conducted over the telephone with organized lists, through email campaigns and from face to face prospecting. While telephone prospecting is the most efficient, face to face prospecting is the most effective. Military recruiters often set up booths at amusement parks, sports stadiums and other attractions. In recent years social media has been more commonly used.
Controversy
See also
Related military articles
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Military service
Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job ( volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription).
Some nations (e.g., Mexico) require ...
*
Women in the military
Women have served in the military in many different roles in various jurisdictions throughout history. Women in many countries are no longer excluded from some types of combat missions such as piloting, mechanics, and infantry officer. Since 1 ...
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Children in the military
Children (defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child as people under the age of 18) have been recruited for participation in military operations and campaigns throughout history and in many cultures.
Children in the military, inclu ...
*
LGBT people and military service
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) personnel are able to serve in the armed forces of some countries around the world: the vast majority of industrialized, Western countries including some South American countries such as A ...
*
Transgender people and military service
*
Conscription
*
Impressment
Impressment, colloquially "the press" or the "press gang", is the taking of men into a military or naval force by compulsion, with or without notice. European navies of several nations used forced recruitment by various means. The large size of ...
*
Counter-recruitment Counter-recruitment refers to activity opposing military recruitment, in some or all of its forms. Among the methods used are research, consciousness-raising, political advocacy and direct action. Most such activity is a response to recruitment by ...
*
Recruit training
Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique deman ...
*
Military science
Recruitment methods and campaigns
United States
*
Conscription in the United States
* ''
America's Army
''America's Army'' is a series of first-person shooter video games developed and published by the U.S. Army, intended to inform, educate, and recruit prospective soldiers. Launched in 2002, the game was branded as a strategic communication devic ...
'' (recruitment game)
*
Slogans of the United States Army
Slogans of the United States Army changed rarely in the 20th century, relative to the 21st.
World War I
"I Want YOU for US Army" featured on a poster of Uncle Sam painted by James Montgomery Flagg.
1950s–1971
"Choice, Not Chance" and "Modern ...
Other states
* UK:
Be All You Can Be
BE or be may refer to:
Linguistics
* ''To be'', the English copular verb
* Be (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet
* ''be'' (interjection), in several languages
* Be language or Ong Be, a language of northern Hainan province, China
*Bla ...
*
Canada First Defence Strategy
The ''Canada First'' Defence Strategy (CFDS) was the military recruitment, procurement, and improvement strategy of the former Canadian government of Stephen Harper to improve the overall eff ...
References
Further reading
Manigart, Philippe.
"Risks and Recruitment in Postmodern Armed Forces: The Case of Belgium."
''Armed Forces & Society'', Jul 2005; vol. 31: pp. 559–582.
* http://afs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/31/4/559
Dandeker, Christopher and Alan Strachan.
"Soldier Recruitment to the British Army: a Spatial and Social Methodology for Analysis and Monitoring."
''Armed Forces & Society'', Jan 1993; vol. 19: pp. 279–290.
* http://afs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/2/279
Snyder, William P.
"Officer Recruitment for the All-Volunteer Force: Trends and Prospects."
''Armed Forces & Society'', Apr 1984; vol. 10: pp. 401–425.
* http://afs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/10/3/401
Griffith, James.
"Institutional Motives for Serving in the U.S. Army National Guard: Implications for Recruitment, Retention, and Readiness."
''Armed Forces & Society'', Jan 2008; vol. 34: pp. 230–258.
* http://afs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/34/2/230
Fitzgerald, John A.
"Changing Patterns of Officer Recruitment at the U.S. Naval Academy."
''Armed Forces & Society'', Oct 1981; vol. 8: pp. 111–128.
* http://afs.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/8/1/111
Eighmey, John.
"Why Do Youth Enlist?: Identification of Underlying Themes."
''Armed Forces & Society'', Jan 2006; vol. 32: pp. 307–328.
* http://afs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/32/2/307
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Military personnel