Yes, those things have contributed to the downturn in recruitment. But, those things you mention speak more to forces outside of the actual military itself - the complex of government and private industry that use our military to achieve political and commercial benefit. What I am talking about is the condition within our military itself. It has been a slow and deliberate destruction of the rank and file soldier which leaves us extremely vulnerable. The constant repetition of the mantra that the military is our only answer does not seriously consider the consequences of that reality. Military takeovers are never good for the people - especially when that military is compromised to the state that ours is.