One of the Marines' toughest targets isn't on the battlefield

"The Marine Corps touts itself as the few and the proud. Getting those few has never been harder, though. Unlike other arms of the military, the Marines pride themselves on consistently hitting their enlistment goals. But that mission is becoming increasingly difficult despite an overall upswing in military recruitment. From old-school methods feeling outdated to a dwindling birth rate, recruiters who are already stretched to the limit are facing more challenges, writes BI's Kelsey Baker."

"It's the final installment in Kelsey's fascinating four-part investigation into the Marine Corps recruiting practices that are "burning Marines," according to one Great Plains sergeant. She spoke to nearly four dozen recruiters and officials and obtained documents from a Marine Corps investigation and two Marine Corps Inspector General reports. Kelsey's reporting found Marine Corps recruiters face an unusual degree of depression, emotional stress, and elevated risks of divorce, with 15 apparent suicides between 2015 and 2024."

"Some of the challenges Marine recruiters face will sound familiar to anyone in sales. They have a quota (enlisting two people a month) and deal with frustrating tracking tools that can slow down the process (Military Health System Genesis). It's one thing to try to get an executive to buy some software, but it's another convincing a high schooler to sign an enlistment contract."

Marine Corps recruiting is increasingly difficult despite an overall uptick in military recruitment. Recruiters contend with outdated, old-school methods, a dwindling birth rate, and stretched resources. Recruiters carry a monthly quota of two enlistees and contend with cumbersome tracking tools such as Military Health System Genesis. The job produces unusual levels of depression, emotional stress, and elevated divorce risk, with 15 apparent suicides reported between 2015 and 2024. Recruiters have faced hostile encounters, including three incidents where guns were pulled, and pressure to meet targets has driven record falsification and forged signatures across ranks. The service reports most recruiters complete tours but acknowledges ongoing shortfalls.

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