The Youth Poll surveys, conducted since 1976, are the DoW's primary source of tracking information on the youth market. The Youth Poll surveys are responsible for tracking military propensity, which is the DoW’s official military interest metric used to forecast recruiting market shifts and anticipate recruiting difficulties. Decision-makers across the DoW and within Congress rely on the estimates and trends captured in this survey to allocate resources, inform policymaking, and drive strategy for recruiting, advertising, and public relations.