Clark County bucks military trend

Last month, about 90 high-schoolers from across Clark County raised their right hands and took an oath to serve the United States.

While recent reports indicate that the U.S. military has grappled with a recruiting slump, Clark County recruiters are seeing a consistent stream of high school seniors pledging to serve their country.

Interest in joining the military has gradually decreased over the years. From 2022 to 2023, the U.S. Army saw its worst recruiting dip since 1973.

In 2023, the U.S. armed forces were short 41,000 recruits from their annual goal, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. A report by the Council on Foreign Relations showed that declining recruitment could be connected to an overall lack of interest, medical screening and eligibility barriers, and young people wanting to enter the civilian workforce instead.

But in 2024, the armed forces saw a 12 percent jump in recruits, according to the Department of Defense.

The department pointed to a surge in advertisements. In 2023, military branches spent about $1.9 billion on advertising and digital forms of recruitment. The Army alone spent $900 million, with the Navy and Air Force each spending about $280 million.

But local recruitment didn’t need to rely on advertising ploys.

Ron Powers, chair of the Community Military Appreciation Committee, said Clark County offers a support system for the region’s veteran and military community.

“They are planting seeds … making an impact in the world. Where we can help is good soil and fertilizer,” he said.

‘Appreciation for the young people’

On April 22, about 90 students and their families gathered at Skyview High School’s auditorium for the 15th annual “Our Community Salutes,” which celebrates high-schoolers who decided to enlist.

Powers said that each year, the event celebrates about 100 youth.

“It’s really showing appreciation for the young people that are entering the United States armed forces,” Powers said.

Seton Catholic College Preparatory senior Dylan Hamilton will head to the U.S. Naval Academy after graduation.

He said he has known since he was a sophomore that he wanted to join the Navy. He was inspired by family members who have served.

“Engineering is something that’s always been there for me, so when I heard about the Naval Academy, it sounded like a perfect fit, because it gave me an opportunity to (pursue) engineering while also serving and giving back to the country,” Hamilton said.

Powers said many of the veterans who help organize the annual event were part of the Vietnam War era, when soldiers returned home to no celebrations.

“Our veterans wanted to make sure that the younger people entering the armed forces would get the recognition they deserve for standing up and enlisting,” Powers said. “And in the same breath, we wanted to let the parents know that we also thank them for being their support system.”

A 2023 National Military Family Association report found that community and a sense of camaraderie were among the top reasons enlistees signed up.

Hamilton said he looks forward to the bonds he will make.

“A lot of young people who may not realize it yet should at least take the time to look into (the military), because while I recognize it’s not a path that everyone should take, I think it has a lot of benefits,” Hamilton said. “You’ll form lifelong bonds and create a community that you could never replicate anywhere else.”