Surprise, in times of economic downtown or job instability, military enlistment goes up - always has, always will. So that's not quite the bragging point you think it is, but you also wouldn't be the first to try to use that as a positive. When the economy is steady or growing in a healthy manner, guess what, enlistment drops.
And a shitload of people have joined in recent years because ACASP is giving them a leg up (Trump was not responsible for that, it goes back to Obama and was being expanded under Biden, although the groundwork was laid under Bush). Lot of people who were on the fence are willing to join if they get credit for their civilian work and certifications (i.e. come in at a higher rank/more pay with $5,000 - $20,000 bonuses on top of that). Toss in a shitty economy and them getting credit for their civilian background, and yeah, enlistment will rise.
But I suggest you talk to people who had to suspend their schooling or decent jobs so that Abbott or other state governors can get Trump's attention, all the while they are mocked by the locals and having their photos plastered all over social media. Publicly, they won't dare say shit for fear of being reprimanded, and the younger ones will say whatever they feel they need to say to not end up on anybody's shitlist. But when those who have been around are waiting on their kids after school and hanging with other parents, or they are sitting around at their kid's soccer or volleyball practice or camping out and spending a lot of time with other scout parents and shooting the shit, yeah, they have lots to say.