How many times I gotta say it? The Reagan era buildup proved that we can a military twice the size of today’s without a draft. You’d think these guys with stars on their shoulders would be aware of this.
We were not fighting a war then, and the sons were raised primarily by WWII fathers. Different demographic; many many first generation Americans who won’t be signing up for the Army...and really it is the Army we are talking about.
They are well aware of it. However it has been the policies of every sitting POTUS since Reagan and both parties in congress and senate who have prevented it from ever happening again. The manpower shortage is an artificial one that the mentioned above have purposely created.
Need more troops? Lower enlistment obligations back to 3/3 or 4/6 contracts. Raise the End Troop Strength Levels to a realistic number so those on active duty and reserves do not face deployment burn out. We have not had a decent Sec of Defense since Cap Weinberger nor POTUS for that matter. Cheney as Sec of Def was a big disaster the GOP will never admit to. It's odd that the only two presidents to downsize the U.S. military during time of war are father and son. We need another Reagan and the top four including the maybe run just don't cut it.
Another huge problem is as one poster stated. There is no more room in the Inn. Between the GHW Bush and Clinton closures there is little place left for training. Our military needs rebuilding and only the bottom three in the polls running for POTUS have realistic, logical, and workable answers.