The Military is Trending Regional and 'All in the Family.' We Need More Diversity. By James A. Winnefeld Jr. and Amy Schafer, USA Today
As tensions rise in several regions, possibly leading to new U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and other combat operations, it’s worth pausing to truly consider who fights our wars.
Across the spectrum of military ranks and occupations, “service in the military, no matter how laudable, has become something for other people to do,” then-Defense secretary Robert Gates said in a speech at Duke University in 2010. He pointed to the relatively few students who would be considering military service upon graduation as symptomatic of the growing civil-military divide.
With an active-duty force comprising merely 0.4% of the U.S. population, this divide between the military and the rest of society is unsurprising. However, and despite the services’ continued efforts, two trends are making it harder to bridge the divide: increased regional and familial concentration within the armed forces.
Why should this disturb us? Because of its subtle impact on the most important decision our nation’s leadership ever makes — when to put young men and women into harm’s way. It also undermines the military’s need for public support…
Comments
More hand-wringing without a serious analysis. Just what is the problem they're trying to solve? Perceived lack of civic-mindedness (or at least that which leads to military service) amongst recruit-aged America? Unsolvable, short of universal military service. A perception that America's political leadership, lacking the shared experience, are cavalier with their use of the military? Unsolvable, short of making military service mandatory for holding national public office. A perception that current and former members of the military may form a disruptive political bloc? Unrealistic if there are that few Americans serving (and to current members, insulting to their professionalism).
One could identify the same trends within national political leadership...political families are a long-running staple through the history of our country, starting with our second and fifth presidents. And history has shown that for the most part, a stretch of military service doesn't make our political leaders any more or less reluctant to send troops into harm's way. Thus we'd best worry about taking care of the volunteers we get, rather than wringing our hands over those we don't.
The authors ignore the racial disparities within the armed forces, specifically the composition of those who serve in front-line combat roles and those who don't. Contrary to popular belief, whites tend to disproportionately fill front-line combat roles.
What would the authors say to this?: http://ashbrook.org/publications/oped-owens-02-combat/