PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Over the past 50 years, the number of people serving in the United States Military has continued to decline. 

Right now, the Armed Forces face the largest challenge to find new service members since 1973. In a way, the military is fighting for talent now more than ever but new incentives to join are making it an attractive option.

Abriyah Robinson has been spending a lot of time at her local U.S. Army recruiting station in Port Richey. She just graduated from high school this year and will be enlisting for four years.

“Working with Abriyah has been a pleasure, a joy, it’s been an easy process, the transition,” said her recruiter, Staff Sargeant Clifford Carter.

Abriyah says she’s a little nervous, but joining the Army is something she wants to do.

Basic training is right around the corner and drawing inspiration from her grandfather’s service keeps her focused.

“My family is really excited. My grandma wanted me to go to the Army more than anything,” she said.

Along with a call to serve her country, Abriyah says the benefits are hard to pass up. As branches of the U.S. Military continue to struggle to meet recruiting goals, incentives like a very large check make it an attractive option.

“It came with a bonus of $35,000 enlistment bonus, educational benefits, free college, tuition assistance, free healthcare. So, she was actually able to pick the job that she wanted,” said Carter.

She’ll be working in transportation and will get half of the check now and the other half at her one year mark.

The station’s commander, Sergeant First Class Timothy Murray, says many people don’t know about these initiatives until they come in.

“It can’t hurt to get information. Right now, the Army’s bonuses are anywhere from $10,000 upwards of $50,000 cash,” Murray said. “With student loan repayment that is out there for everybody that is looking to pay off some student loads, get some federal job experience, the opportunities are there for everybody.” 

At the station in Port Richey, recruiters are getting people interested by making themselves more visible.

“We’ve been going out to our beaches, we’ve been going out to local community events, getting intertwined within the community. It’s not necessarily all about putting people in the Army, it’s about making a presence within the community and giving back to the people of the New Port Richey area,” Murray said.

For Abriyah, having a plan for the next chapter of her life is important.

“It just makes me feel good knowing that my life will be set pretty much, but I plan to stick out the full 20,” she said.