Project 100,000

Project 100,000 was a U.S. military initiative launched in the late 1960s to increase recruitment by enlisting individuals with less-than-ideal academic or personal records. Its goal was to address personnel shortages during the Vietnam War by providing training and support to these recruits, who might otherwise be rejected. The project aimed to give more Americans the opportunity to serve and gain skills, while also meeting military demands. While it expanded military manpower, it faced criticism over the preparedness and long-term effectiveness of some recruits, highlighting challenges in balancing recruitment needs with training quality.