New Study Highlights Immigrant Willingness to Serve in U.S. and Canadian Militaries

Congratulations to Professor Christopher Simon and his team on the publication of their study, "Re-examining Willingness to Fight for One’s Country: Exploring Nature of Conflict and Citizenship Status Effects in the United States and Canada," in Armed Forces & Society.

Successful recruitment is crucial for maintaining force strength in an all-volunteer military. However, both the U.S. and Canada have struggled to meet their recruitment goals in recent years. A recent study, "Re-examining Willingness to Fight for One’s Country: Exploring Nature of Conflict and Citizenship Status Effects in the United States and Canada" (Armed Forces & Society, 2024), by Christopher Simon (Professor, Public Affairs, University of Utah) and his team, sheds light on this issue.

The research explores two key areas: the willingness of immigrants to serve in their respective host nations’ militaries and how concerns about different types of conflict affect this willingness. The study reveals that immigrants in both the U.S. and Canada are significantly more willing to fight for their adopted countries compared to native-born citizens. It also highlights that individuals' concerns about specific conflicts influence their willingness to serve.

With declining birthrates and reduced interest in military careers, immigrants are likely to become a vital resource for meeting recruitment needs. However, it’s important to consider the immigrant experience and any immigration-related trauma when addressing recruitment strategies. Elected leaders should stay mindful of the connection between conflict types and recruitment efforts to ensure a robust and committed armed force.