Posted on Jan 19, 2018
‘Warrior caste’: Is a public disconnect hurting military recruiting efforts?
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Is the military-civilian divide getting larger? Has American society become more self-centered, helped along by social networking? Are our military ethics of subservience of self to nation seen as right-wing nationalism? Is it time for a national compulsory service? How do we bridge the gap?
‘Warrior caste’: Is a public disconnect hurting military recruiting efforts?
Posted from militarytimes.com
Ethics
Social Media
Society
Recruit
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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Draft is impractical and too expensive. Suggest advocating a limited reserve corps centered on state Nat'l Guards. Keep it local and keep it simple. Maintain current recruit training for four year enlistments. But, allow states to create a shorten "indoctrination" program that stresses vocational and academic training. States can use existing technical schools and staff. Purpose will be to build an emergency response corps to react to local or regional disasters or to supplement full time force. Those who chose a medical field can use their talent in the public health arena. Construction related specialities can assist in removal of blighted housing or rebuilding after a tornado or hurricane. Members can be used for security during large public events. Using locals to deal with local problem will close the gap between civilian and public servants. It will give those without career direction a chance to experience life outside of their home and to learn how to live with strangers. It will also expose people to communities they may never visit. It will be truly a Peace Corps.
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LTJG Richard Bruce
Going aboard should be voluntary. Trying to encourage participation to improve recruitment by keeping members local. Operating in poorest counties should have a clear achievable mission. Problem is that areas are mainly poor for social reasons, not structural. A reserve corps can help a poor area with health care, policing, or infrastructure improvements. Cost is always a restraint. Don't want such a program to replace traditional budgeting for capital improvements, nor subsidize bad governance.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
LTJG Richard Bruce - Well, either it's compulsory or it's not. You can try to recruit to an emergency response corps, but good luck getting enough to sign up to effect a real change in cultural outlook.
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Capt Gregory Prickett
A draft is neither impractical nor too expensive. Dozens of nations around the world still have compulsory service.
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None of which are the size of, and give the benefits of, the US.
Korean conscripts are treated horribly and paid pennies compared to US, and they're side by side with Americans daily.
Korean conscripts are treated horribly and paid pennies compared to US, and they're side by side with Americans daily.
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Bridging the gap means more two-way empathy of both the politics and culture of civil society along with politics and military culture. There are both liberal and conservative elements that disagree about policy and current missions of service.
Compulsory military service may backfire. During the Vietnam War, many rich connected youth avoided service through college deferment or sham medical issues. Project 100K drafted many poor recruits with low IQ, criminal backgrounds or weak English skills which adversely impacted capability.
There is not easy solution, but talking and reforming the volunteer service would be a start.
Compulsory military service may backfire. During the Vietnam War, many rich connected youth avoided service through college deferment or sham medical issues. Project 100K drafted many poor recruits with low IQ, criminal backgrounds or weak English skills which adversely impacted capability.
There is not easy solution, but talking and reforming the volunteer service would be a start.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
I did not say, and I don't suggest, compulsory MILITARY service. That would be just one option of many ways you could choose to serve your nation. But the broadening of perspective and human growth to be gained through peace corps or habitat for humanity, & etc, would help bridge the gap, I think.
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In order: Yes, yes, yes, no, and we don't.
The public disconnect is absolutely hurting recruiting. It's well established that it is, every Recruiting command is struggling to deal with it, every Recruiter on the ground is dealing with it.
With instant news access, every single mistake is broadcast immediately. Just like anywhere else, only the bad makes the news, not the good. So civilians getting killed, soldiers getting their bonuses recouped causing bankruptcy, Veterans dying in VA hospitals over and over and over again...this is the picture that's painted. These are the major headlines. Nobody likes to feel like they're an expendable, instantly replaceable and interchangeable asset...and that's precisely what we are, as made evident time and time again. It's grim.
That's why Recruiting is such a burnout job. Overcoming all of this on a daily basis will wear down anyone, quickly. The US is more divided, faith in the government is lower, than any time in most young peoples memories. Kindling that spark to still have pride in your country, and be willing to sacrifice everything for it, knowing that there's a good chance promises made to you in exchange will be broken...young people know more than they're given credit for. You can hop on Facebook or Reddit and have a conversation with a servicemember anytime. Many servicemembers have also lost faith in the system, and warn anyone who will listen to stay away.
The public disconnect is absolutely hurting recruiting. It's well established that it is, every Recruiting command is struggling to deal with it, every Recruiter on the ground is dealing with it.
With instant news access, every single mistake is broadcast immediately. Just like anywhere else, only the bad makes the news, not the good. So civilians getting killed, soldiers getting their bonuses recouped causing bankruptcy, Veterans dying in VA hospitals over and over and over again...this is the picture that's painted. These are the major headlines. Nobody likes to feel like they're an expendable, instantly replaceable and interchangeable asset...and that's precisely what we are, as made evident time and time again. It's grim.
That's why Recruiting is such a burnout job. Overcoming all of this on a daily basis will wear down anyone, quickly. The US is more divided, faith in the government is lower, than any time in most young peoples memories. Kindling that spark to still have pride in your country, and be willing to sacrifice everything for it, knowing that there's a good chance promises made to you in exchange will be broken...young people know more than they're given credit for. You can hop on Facebook or Reddit and have a conversation with a servicemember anytime. Many servicemembers have also lost faith in the system, and warn anyone who will listen to stay away.
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