A sense of dread and unease is sweeping across the American political landscape as confidence in the U.S. military sinks to a 24-year low, according to recent polling data from Gallup. An astounding 60% of Americans from all corners of the political spectrum have expressed dispirited confidence in the military, an unsettlingly similar figure to the dismal 1997 records. It serves as a chilling reminder that the last time numbers dipped below 60% was in 1988, a time bookmarked by a less than 60% confidence rate. This data, collected during the tumultuous period of June 1-22, underscores a growing trend of discontent and underscores a sustained period of wavering faith in America’s military might.
The percentage decline is even more stark among Republicans, the demographic that has historically expressed the most robust support for the military. In a shocking downswing, Republican confidence in the military has plummeted by 23 points since 2020, when a triumphant 91% professed unwavering faith in our armed forces. Even against the backdrop of this sweeping decline, independent factions displayed the least confidence, languishing at an alarming 55%.
While Gallup highlighted a temporary boost in Democrats’ confidence after President Joe Biden’s inauguration, it has since followed the overarching trend and taken a downturn. This drastic decline seems to align with the disorganized retreat from Afghanistan, where American military forces maintained a presence for over two decades. This withdrawal will be eternally marred by the tragic loss of thirteen American service members, brutally claimed by a suicide bombing amidst the chaos of the final extraction.
A growing chorus of voices links this erosion in confidence to the perceived politicization of the Department of Defense. The Center for Renewing America, a prominent conservative policy organization, expressed its frustrations candidly, declaring: “Americans’ confidence in the U.S. military is the lowest in 2 decades! Our ‘leaders’ have tarnished the military’s history and legacy by putting woke indoctrination before patriotism & foreign conflict before American interests.”
To add to the litany of issues facing the military, growing recruiting struggles have the potential to further exacerbate the problem. The foreboding reality of the Army falling short of its recruitment goals for fiscal year 2022 and forecasting the same deficiencies for 2023 ominously looms large. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth has already issued warnings, suggesting potential “thinning out” of their ranks given the military’s recruitment challenges and accelerating service member attrition rates. “If we don’t turn our recruiting situation around, I can’t guarantee you that the Army won’t have to make some substantial potential force structure reductions,” Wormuth declared with an unmistakable tone of caution.
The sobering reality of fading confidence in our nation’s military bodes ill for America’s future defense prospects. Nowhere has this decline been more apparent than in the haunting aftermath of a disorganized exit from a two-decade presense in Afghanistan, an event that served as a brutal litmus test for American military might and strategic planning. The people’s eroding faith in our military, perpetuated by failed leadership and misguided policymaking, urgently calls for refocused priorities, more effective recruitment strategies, and genuine re-engagement with the American public. This report of an alarming 60% confidence level should serve as a wake-up call, setting the stage for a comprehensive, bipartisan, and vigorous review of how America supports, staffs, and employs its military power. The stakes are immensely high – for our military’s morale, our national security, and our standing in the world.
