Durbin Urges Military Leaders To Extend Recruitment Efforts To DACA Recipients

Hearing

"The [Government Accountability Office] GAO noted last year that the Pentagon "is facing the most challenging recruitment environment in 50 years.' The Army, for example, has especially struggled to meet recruitment goals. The service missed its end strength number by 15,000, or 25 percent, in Fiscal Year 2022. I'm glad to see this budget request increases competitive compensation and funding for recruitment marketing programs, as well as improving quality of life for current service members. I'd like to ask you, if you would tell me, what the impact has been on the Guard and Reserve in this recruiting challenge?

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Tell me what the elements are that you think are most persuasive for those who are enlisting.

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We have 780,000 DACA recipients…many of whom want to serve the country where they grew up. But there's an obstacle -- Congress. We have not given them a pathway to citizenship. This should be a pathway. You ought to open up your opportunities, across the board in the military, to Dreamers and to DACA recipients, who really want to serve this country.

For some reason, there's been resistance, perhaps it was the luxury of a lot of recruits and we didn't need others. But, I've met them. I know them. They make great sacrifices just to have this opportunity to wear the uniforms that you're wearing today. I hope that when you're in the highest levels of the Pentagon that you'll discuss this candidly. Your predecessors have not always been cooperative when I've raised this issue. There's a resistance because these folks are, "undocumented.' They may not have been born here, but they love this country just as much as any of us who pledge allegiance to that flag."

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