Recruiting an all-volunteer military is a formidable task. To successfully enlist one eligible recruit, the Army must contact approximately 120 young people. The National Research Council explores the various factors that will determine whether the military can realistically expect to recruit an adequate fighting force—one that will meet its upcoming needs. It also assesses the military's expected manpower needs and projects the numbers of youth who are likely to be available over the next 20 years to meet these needs.


With clearly written text and useful graphics, Attitudes, Aptitudes, and Aspirations of American Youth offers an overview of important issues for military recruiters, touching on a number of important topics including: sex and race, education and aptitude, physical and moral attributes, and military life and working conditions. In addition, the book looks at how a potential recruit would approach the decision to enlist, considering personal, family, and social values, and the options for other employment or college.


Building on the need to increase young Americans' "propensity to enlist," this book offers useful recommendations for increasing educational opportunities while in the service and for developing advertising strategies that include concepts of patriotism and duty to country. Of primary value to military policymakers, recruitment officers, and analysts, Attitudes, Aptitudes, and Aspirations of American Youth will also interest social scientists and policy makers interested in youth trends.Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1. Introduction
2. Military Manpower Requirements
3. Demographic Trends
4. Trends in Youth Qualifications and Enlistment Standards
5. Trends in Employment and Educational Opportunities for Youth
6. Youth Values, Attitudes, Perceptions, and Influencers
7. Determinants of Intention or Propensity
8. Military Advertising and Recruiting
9. Conclusions and Recommendations
References
Appendix A: Letter Report: Evaluation of the Youth Attitude Tracking Study, YATS
Appendix B: Letter Report: The Scientific Basis of the Popular Literature on Generations
Appendix C: Biographical Sketches
Index