The story behind the story is the current recruits lack the aptitude to actually employ the complex tools of war to be effective. Ya they can point a gun but as we progress our equipment and complex systems will begin to fall apart just like Russia and China’s do.
The focus has shifted from professionalism to a job welfare program for the deranged, mentally unstable people have no capacity for the rigor of thought and discipline of effort to maintain our current modern military.
They will be effective thugs with guns but nothing more.
To conquer their true enemies in America's suburbs and rural areas, that's probably all they need.