DoD Can Close the Civil-Military Divide

The growing separation between the military and society is dangerous for democracy. DoD is the government agency best equipped to address it.Since George Washington resigned his commission at Annapolis in 1783, the U.S. system has depended on the military’s subordination to civilian control. In the past, it was easy to maintain this control, as the military remained small in times of peace and then expanded its ranks with “citizen soldiers” during times of war.1 Drawn from all locations and walks of life, these citizen soldiers served because their country, not the profession of arms, had called. In addition, these citizen soldiers served in units organized by state and led by local officers, so their ties with their home populations remained strong. By World War II, however, the government opted for a nationally integrated military, and it did not disband it after the war. After Vietnam, the government went a step further, eliminating the draft and replacing the citizen soldier with the professional or career soldier.