Having Idi Amin as your Secretary of Defense is bound to diminish interest in the military in a big way.
I’m retired military and I wouldn’t serve in today’s military.
“Oftentimes, influencers [like parents, teachers, and coaches] do not recommend military service.”
Parents, teachers, and coaches are not their problem. The potential enlistee can find a military veteran or retired veteran to consult. When they lose the recommendation of veterans, that is a real problem.