Revisiting the justification for an all-volunteer force
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Authors
Amara, Jomana
Subjects
All-volunteer army
conscription
national service
force effectiveness
force cost
conscription
national service
force effectiveness
force cost
Advisors
Date of Issue
2019
Date
Publisher
Routledge
Language
Abstract
In 1968, President Nixon established the Commission on an All Volunteer Armed Force, or the Gates Commission, which served as the impetus and justification for an All-Volunteer Force (AVF). At the end of its deliberations, the commission recommended abolishing the draft and transforming the U.S. military into a force of volunteers beginning in 1973. Interestingly, the debate regarding the merits of both systems appeared to be largely economic – with cost–benefit analysis playing the primary role. Lately, we are beginning to see a new, politically-motivated impetus for returning to a “system of national service.” The ideas spurring this debate are many: the need to reaffirm the nation state, the commitment of citizens to the state, political ownership and oversight of the forces, the need for social equity in serving the nation, limiting the support for armed conflict by burden-sharing among citizens, and equitably spreading the personal cost of war.
Type
Article
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14751798.2019.1640425
Series/Report No
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
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Format
18 p.
Citation
Amara, Jomana. "Revisiting the justification for an all-volunteer force." Defense & Security Analysis 35.3 (2019): 326-342.
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.