Long ago, in the before time, many kids joined the military to get out of their miserable little towns and get some experience. It was also a time of relative peace. And "false flags" were still a conspiracy theory.

Today the military is no longer holds as much "national pride".
As well as many of the newest generation being against the system.

Further, to many are seeing the raw deal you get from serving.
Homeless vets has become a staple of the meme wars.

And then, we have all of these real wars, where real people are dying, and that fact is leaking back to the american people through alternative medias.

I think the biggest thing is young men are learning that war is not glamorous, and you will not be a returning hero. And there goes most of the reasons why one would join.