'A mess': Army retention 'crumbling fast' under Trump

NPR reports that President Donald Trump’s invasion of Iran — as well as the armed services’ “culture change” under the secretary of defense — is driving members of the military out of service.

“Members are choosing to retire early or to not reenlist when their contracts are up, according to those who spoke with NPR. Others are applying for medical separation or are breaking their enlistment contracts regardless of the consequences.”

Since Trump and his appointees arrived on the scene in January, GI Rights Hotline Director Bill Galvin says 24-hour phone lines have “been very, very busy." His organization, the Center on Conscience and War, informs service members of their options for military discharge.

Military members cite many reasons for wanting out, but NPR reports the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran “has been a powerful motivator.” Galvin said nearly all the callers he talks to mention the bombing of a girls’ school in Iran on the first day of the war, which killed at least 165 civilians, many of them children. Trump initially tried to claim Iran bombed its own children, but a preliminary assessment determined the U.S. was at fault.

“It comes up almost always,” said Galvin. “It's like, 'I can't be a part of something that's doing that.’”

One career counselor speaking anonymously with NPR said retention “is the only thing holding the Army up, from a metrics standpoint. And it is crumbling fast," with “climate and cultural shifts within the military under this administration” being the main reasons people are giving for leaving.”

"It has been a mess, and many individuals feel frustration throughout the ranks," that counselor said.

Galvin's center recently took on more than 80 new clients, which is nearly twice as many as it collects in an average year. Kori Schake, of the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said some of the turmoil also stemmed from the Trump administration "dragging the military into the culture wars" and creating "the perception that women and people of color haven't earned leadership responsibilities in our military."

Adam Weinstein of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, which supports U.S. military restraint worldwide, said upheaval in the armed services, including many departures of top brass, has sent a signal to upcoming talent.

"When you see chaos within the U.S. military, to some degree, at least coming out of the Pentagon, what message does that send to the best and brightest who might want to make a career out of the U.S. military?" Weinstein says.