The Canadian Armed Forces is sounding the alarm as it deals with a severe shortage of new recruits to fill thousands of vacant positions within the ranks.

The shortfall is so bad that the senior officer responsible for managing military recruitment and training is describing it as a crisis.

Brigadier-General Krista Brodie says the military is getting only about half the number of applicants that it needs to meet its goal of adding 5,900 service members to the ranks this year.

Already about one in 10 military positions are unfilled, and the shortage also means there are fewer people to rise through the ranks and fill leadership roles later.

Officials are trying to better understand the problem, and working on potential solutions including financial incentives, ways to improve work-life balance and improving public perceptions of the military.

The military is also trying to recruit from under-represented groups, such as women and Indigenous people.