US military faces ‘TikTok mutiny’ as Gen Z recruits whine about low pay, ‘sh***y’ food and FITNESS TESTS while in uniform on bases

The US military is facing a TikTok mutiny as Gen Z recruits take to social media to whine about low pay, ‘shitty’ food and fitness tests.

The brazen posts – by uniformed troops at US bases – represent a bold challenge to the top brass amid a recruitment crisis. The army fell 25 percent short of its target last year.

One of military influencer Anthony Laster’s posts criticizes military life for having “no privacy, the pay sucks, bad food, disrespectful leadership, NO sleep!” and has been viewed more than 600,000 times.

Laster, from Chicago, has more than a million followers on TikTok and made public comments in uniform while on a mission in the desert. In another post, he claimed he spent the day watching TikToks while supposedly fighting the Taliban.

It gives potential recruits a sad impression of the U.S. armed forces, which will likely spark further hostility toward TikTok from critics. Politicians on both sides are concerned about the platform’s ties to China and accuse the platform of promoting subversive anti-American propaganda.

The Army expects it will fall about 15,000 troops short of its 2023 target of 65,000 recruits.

Similarly, the Navy expects a shortfall of 10,000 men and the Air Force is expected to miss its target by 10 percent.

The traditional appeal of military recruitment is failing to register with Gen Z.

Last year, only 9 percent of young people ages 16 to 21 said they would consider military service, according to Pentagon data, a decline of 13 percent from before the pandemic.

The military has been criticized for using “woke” advertising campaigns focused on diversity, equality and inclusion, as well as drag shows for troops, to appeal to Generation Z.

The military is in the midst of a five-year plan to become a “model example of diversity, equity and inclusion,” with the blessing of the White House.

Now that the focus is elsewhere, however, it is in the grip of a fitness crisis.

About 23 percent of soldiers registered as obese in 2021, according to a recent study of data from the Military Health System Data Repository.

Not only are recruits not fit enough to compete, their fitness levels decline once they enter the ranks, leaving officials scrambling to install weight-loss and exercise regimes.

Now disgruntled rank-and-file officers have found an outlet on TikTok to advise those considering signing up to think again, according to videos viewed by DailyMail.com.

Among the main criticisms are young soldiers complaining about having to remain under a certain weight, harsh treatment by their superiors and having to perform menial tasks instead of engaging enemies on the battlefield.

A young recruit, Shemar Williams, in uniform and appearing to be on base, looks into the camera and tells his 34,000 followers his “top five reasons not to join the military.”

Echoing Laster’s grievances, Williams laments that “we don’t get paid enough to carry out the mission we’ve been given,” a lack of autonomy and sacrifice in family life.

According to federal data, more than 20,000 active-duty military personnel rely on food stamps to make ends meet.

More worrying for recruiting, Williams also adds to his list of complaints about things the military tries to sell to potential recruits as perks, particularly “training.”

“Now I know you’re thinking, ‘Wow, that’s an advantage,’” Williams explains, “but there are requirements you have to meet first to get into that program. So if you are considering joining for education, just go to school.”

Sergeant Barber, 25, who films himself in his uniform, admits he has already been “consulted because of a TikTok video” but tells his 68,000 followers “before you go to the recruiting office, watch this video… If you don’t want your freedom likes to be a bit oppressed, not really, then I wouldn’t join the army.’

In addition to warning against the fantasies of getting rich in the military, Barber also says that life in the military is “mopping the floors 99 percent of the time” instead of waging war.

“Even if you bet, you probably won’t see fights in this world today, so if that’s your mentality. Don’t participate!’

Female recruits have also contributed to the anti-military advice offered on TikTok.

A young recruit identified as Gammage only by the name on her uniform tells those considering a life in the military, “Don’t join the military until you’re mentally prepared to be told you’re overweight or becomes too heavy. , treated like you’re not a good soldier if you can’t run 2 miles in 18 minutes or less – oh and you can’t get hurt either because then it’s your fault’.

Health is a barrier to recruitment, but also an issue once recruits are enrolled.

More than half (56 percent) of American 18 to 25-year-olds are overweight or obese, meaning they may not qualify, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins.

Fitness within the military is also at a crisis point, with generals calling it a threat to national security.

Injury and health care are also a concern for a young recruit who identified himself as Treull.

He advises against joining the military because “this is very physically demanding, the military doesn’t care if you mess up, you better go to PT [personal trainer].’

Treull also complains that commanding officers are “on a power trip and you can’t do anything.”

In conclusion: ‘In the army you are their b***h, if they want to do something to you, you are going to do it.’

A defense official told DailyMail.com: ‘DOD components are required to review and approve unofficial mobile applications for use on government-issued devices.

“The Department of Defense has never authorized the use of TikTok, and several organizations have already banned its download on their mobile devices. Users must sign a user agreement upon issuance of the device.

“The agreement informs them of appropriate device usage requirements and their responsibilities for the proper use and download of unmanaged applications. Additionally, all DoD personnel are required to complete the annual Cyber ​​Awareness Challenge, which includes modules specific to mobile devices, social media and geolocation capabilities.

Adding: “DoD Mobile Application Policy requires DOD Components to monitor and prohibit the use of applications that pose a potential risk. The DoD is currently updating its mobile application security policy to establish a process for prohibiting the installation of applications that the DoD believes are inappropriate for downloading to a government device as well.

“In accordance with Division R, Section 102 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, U.S. Cyber ​​Command, through the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network, has notified all combatant commands, military services, defense agencies, and DoD field activities ordered to delete TikTok. of all government-funded equipment and prohibit users from downloading or accessing the application on government-funded equipment.”