71 percent of young people are ineligible to join military - Pentagon data

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Thursday, May 16, 2019
71 percent of young people are ineligible to join military, data shows
Obesity, criminal records, no high school diploma: All three are new factors that will keep many young people from serving in the military.

A staggering 71 percent of young people are ineligible to join the military, according to 2017 Pentagon data.

The main reasons most 17-to-24 year olds cannot qualify include obesity, lack of a high school diploma, or having a criminal record.

Recruiters say this could be a risk for our national security. Officials say it's also an issue for businesses in general because the vast majority of that age group is not eligible for many jobs.