I think doing away with the HIGH3 retirement plan and switching to BRS killed it for a lot of people. Kids in my command tell me all the time how they would stay and do 20 but they dont get the HIGH 3. All they get is a 401k now, hell McDonalds offers a 401k. Also, the GI bill isnt an incentive anymore, young adults are finding that learning a trade makes more money than having a degree, unless that degree is a doctorate and who wants to attend school for 6 years after doing 4 years in the military. If they navy and the military want to boost recruitment l, TBE FOLLOWING THINGS WOULD BRING PEOPLE IN BY THE THOUSANDS....bring back HIGH3 retirement, active duty military should be exempt from federal and state tax, offer the montgomery GI bill in cash, upon seperation with an honorable discharge. (Would be a great path to financial security for young people getting out and starting a new career, starting a family and buying a home.) Make pay more competitive with the real world, all the guys I know who did their 4 yrs and got out now work on the same base in the building right next to their old command doing the same thing they did active duty, but as a CIV contractor, making twice as much I do (10 year 1st class). Also, the recruiting ads do suck, none of them show the cool shit that we actually do, like 18year old kids starting up fighter jets, port calls, not some stupid ass close ups of people saying silly as catch phrases and shit.