How the Military Isolates Itself – And Hurts Veterans
How the Military Isolates Itself – And Hurts Veterans by Phillip Carter and David Barno, Washington Post.
In Afghanistan and Iraq, the wire ringing our bases divided two starkly different worlds. Inside the wire, life revolved around containerized housing units, cavernous dining facilities, well-appointed gyms and the distant but ever-present risk of a falling rocket or mortar round. Outside the wire, Afghans and Iraqis tried to live their lives amid relative chaos. They didn’t fully understand what we were doing there. And when we ventured out, we struggled to navigate their world.
The wire defines a similar divide in the United States. Inside, troops and their families live and work on massive military bases, separated geographically, socially and economically from the society they serve. Outside, Americans live and work, largely unaware of the service and sacrifice of the 2.4 million active and reserve troops. Discussions of the civil-military divide often blame civilians. But the military’s self-imposed isolation doesn’t encourage civilian understanding, and it makes it difficult for veterans and their families to navigate the outside world…
Thoughts?
Saw a link to this site on The American Conservative (scroll down):
http://www.humansofnewyork.com/
Okay, SWJ types. It’s time to take a break from all this.
Does anyone in uniform agree with the arguments presented in this article? Opening our bases for non-DOD personnel to use our gas stations, gyms, and golf courses, and taking away the commissaries so service members will always have to leave base to shop (99% shop off base some of the time anyway) will supposedly result in our military more effectively integrating with civil society and in turn it will make it easier for our vets to get jobs?
Our bases weren’t always closed and I don’t recall us being better integrated when they were open. Furthermore due to the nature of our work we need our own culture, which is not unlike other professions ranging from firemen to Google. I think too much is made of the so called civil-military divide, since it only tends to impact those of us who are lifers. The author noted that 80% of service members get out before they hit 20 years (as it should be), and I suspect most get out with less than 4 years of service. Are they really that divided from the society they hail from after a tour in the military?
What is the real problem that LTG (Ret) Barno is trying to fix? I keep hearing about the divide, but for the most part I see it as a healthy divide. Hopefully we don’t want to militarize our society or overly civilianize our military. If we’re out of balance (too divided) please clarify how and the risks associated with it.
Gen Barno is only trying to fix one thing… The amount of $$$ in his bank account. If this was a good idea why didn’t he implement it when in command? Another case of the spine that shows up after you retire. The average US citizen does not feel the strain of war, and does not care or want to either. Military service is and can be a thankless job. If you need awards, pats on the back, thank you’s etc. then get out. The Salvation Army has billets open.