Recently, to attract recruits the military has offered larger enlistment cash bonuses, allowed more high-school dropouts and applicants with low scores on aptitude tests, and loosened restrictions on weight, age, and medical requirements. The Department of Defense is also giving more waivers to those with criminal backgrounds and moral deficiencies. This raises concerns about whether the military is making too many exceptions to try to meet its recruitment needs in a time of war.
And it leads me to wonder: Do most Americans really, truly, care? Are we willing to commit to and support this war effort? Are we willing to enlist and/or allow our children to enlist for the cause? What about the rich and famous among us? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if relatives of key politicians and influential others volunteered their service for the military establishment?
As a combat veteran, 30-year retired Marine sergeant major, and father of a former Navy petty officer first class with over ten years of active service, I feel that this problem is more complicated than it seems. In the land of the free and the home of the brave, it intrigues me that the military, especially the Army and Marine Corps, often experience recruiting difficulties. Many of us want to spread freedom and democracy throughout the globe, and we now have an excellent opportunity to put our beliefs and philosophies into actions and deeds. When it comes to these matters, nothing speaks as loudly as personal sacrifice and direct involvement. The elite and leadership classes could help.
With very few exceptions, the rich, famous, and powerful among us do not volunteer for military service. Many have accused both Bush administrations of harboring “chicken hawks,” but the Supreme Court and Congress are not filled with veterans either. In 1969, 70 percent of Congress was veterans; by 2004, that number was 25 percent. Overall, less than 1 percent of our population (more than 300 million) serve in today’s military.
If joining the military is good enough for the average citizen, it should be honorable for everyone. I think such action and patriotism would go far in setting the example. What more genuine way to show you are willing to do your part and share in supporting the United States and all it stands for?
But several significant barriers hinder such a call to arms. They include:
• Many feel this is an unnecessary war for all the wrong reasons.
• Others who proclaim they support the troops are not willing to send their relatives to fight for the cause.
• Some complain that this war effort has not been managed in an efficient and effective manner.
• Many allege that there is a blood-for-oil stigma attached to this military endeavor, and that it is being driven by, and for the interest of, the military-industrial complex.
These are the kinds of issues and dilemmas that will continue to haunt and divide the American people. This is particularly true among those from the more economically privileged and politically advantaged among us. In this matter, there is an obvious chasm between the haves and have-nots. We have all heard the well-known saying, “When those who benefit most from living in a country contribute the least to its defense and those who benefit least are asked to pay the ultimate price, something happens to the soul of that country.”
Even today, America’s military is represented disproportionally in terms of social, economic, and demographic factors. Among whites, the socioeconomic lower 20 percent constitutes most of the personnel in that ethnic group. But among blacks, it is the corresponding upper 20 percent. When it comes to national defense, we need better diversification and inclusion of all our populace.
Until these kinds of realities and ramifications are openly and thoroughly discussed and resolved, we will have no meeting of the minds or enough support to efficiently address our inadequate military recruiting.