In the heart of downtown Port-au-Prince, a small radio crackled with an announcement that could change lives. Haiti’s military was seeking new recruits, and for 21-year-old Maurenceley Clerge, who repairs and sells smartphones at a street stall, it was an opportunity he couldn’t ignore. With dreams of earning enough to afford his own food and rent, Clerge quickly completed the required paperwork and joined hundreds of other hopefuls standing in line under the sweltering sun, eager for a chance to serve.

“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for,” Clerge shared, expressing his desire not only to serve his country but also to improve his own life. Currently dependent on a friend for shelter and food, the prospect of a stable job as a soldier offers him a way out of poverty and a path toward self-sufficiency.

As gang violence continues to ravage Haiti, thousands of young people are flocking to enlist in the military, viewing it as one of the few available job opportunities in a country where work is scarce. Despite the dangers—kidnappings, torture, and even death—Haiti’s youngest generation is stepping up, driven by a mix of patriotism and the need for economic stability. The government, aiming to rebuild a military disbanded decades ago, sees these recruits as essential in its fight to reclaim the streets from gangs.

For many, like Samuel Delmas, the decision to enlist was not made lightly. “I thought about it a lot because I know that being a soldier requires a lot of sacrifice,” Delmas said. Aware of the risks involved, he still felt compelled to apply, recognizing that the potential rewards—a steady income, purpose, and a chance to serve—outweighed the dangers.

As Haiti’s military looks to bolster its ranks, the flood of applications from young Haitians highlights both the desperate need for employment and the willingness of a new generation to risk everything for a chance at a better future. The situation underscores the dire economic conditions in Haiti, where joining the military offers one of the few viable paths to escape poverty, even at great personal risk.