America's veterans can inspire the next generation to serve

Most branches of the U.S. military expect to miss their recruitment targets this year by significant margins – 15,000 for the Army, 10,000 for the Navy and 3,000 for the Air Force.

Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. is a retired U.S. Marine Corps four-star general and was the 19th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

There are a lot of theories about why this may be, but according to the Pentagon, the "foundational challenge" is "a lack of familiarity with the military." Put another way, young people are not being exposed to positive role models or fellow community members who have served, and therefore see service itself as entirely foreign. In fact, only 8% believe that military members "share a lot in common with me." 

Up to this point, we have been able to count on our military tradition being passed down by exposing young people to others who have served, beginning with parents. In 1995, about 40% of the entire U.S. population had a parent who served. As two people raised in military households and whose fathers both served, we represent that 40%. Today however, that number is down to 13%.