“Our best assets are our people.”

Brigadier General Laura McHugh of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard stood at a podium in the center of the state capitol rotunda. Christmas tree lights sparkled behind her, highlighting a banner that read 'Mission: Readiness'.

The military is facing a recruitment crisis.

“All of the military forces missed their recruiting goals in the past year," said Brigadier General George Schwartz (retired). "The Pennsylvania National Guard missed their targets by 25%. For a force that has around 14,000, that’s pretty significant.”

77% of Americans aged 17-24 are not eligible to serve in the military.

“Either because of their physical readiness, their cognitive skills, or they have some sort of criminal record," said Shwartz, who volunteers with Mission: Readiness.

The policy group is run by retired military personnel, researching methods to prepare youth for the armed forces and society beyond. Mission: Readiness links some of the current recruitment issues to failures in education.

Today, the organization discussed their most recently published report, hosting speakers and several state representatives in the capitol rotunda.

Early childhood education was one topic emphasized.

“Three and four year old brains, they’re building new neuron connections every second, millions of connections every second," said Shwartz. "High quality child care will have an impact later on when these kids are going into high school and into college.”

Speakers also championed nutritional programs, the importance of parents, and how school funding impacts quality education.

“Our state’s over reliance on local property tax to fund public education has drastically limited poor communities’ ability to adequately fund their schools," said retired Rear Admiral Thomas Wilson.

Mission: Readiness's report, titled "We Need... All That They Can Be" is available here.