Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, commander of Army Recruiting Command, will speak May 2 during a webinar hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army.

Part of AUSA’s Noon Report series, the livestream event titled “Recruiting with Success” will begin at noon Eastern. It is free, but registration is required here.

Davis has led Recruiting Command since October, taking charge at a time when the Army faces a historically challenging recruiting environment. Last year, the service missed its recruiting goal by about 15,000 new soldiers, and leaders across the force are working on new, innovative ways to attract young people to join, better select soldiers suited for the task of recruiting, and dispel misconceptions about what the Army has to offer and what it means to serve.

Some of the challenges the Army faces include a shrinking pool of eligible young people due to obesity, poor test scores and behavioral issues. There also is competition from the private sector, with more employers offering bonuses, higher wages and education benefits, and only 9% of young people are willing to serve, an all-time low.

During the webinar, Davis will talk about how he’s working to provide Army recruiters with the resources they need to succeed and give an update on the service’s recruiting efforts and its work to connect with young people across America.

The difference between fiscal 2022, when the Army fell short of its recruiting goal by 15,000 soldiers, and the current fiscal year, Davis said in December, is that “there is a complete focus on recruiting” by Army senior leaders.

“This is certainly a challenge, and 2023 will be a challenge, and I think we all know that,” Davis said at the time.

But he is optimistic that the Army will overcome the crisis. “We are starting to see some movement in the right direction,” he said. “Is it where we need to be to close the entire gap? No, this is going to be a challenging fight. But I see it in each of [the recruiters’] eyes that they’re getting after it.”