I Want You!

I Want You!
Author: Bernard D. Rostker
Publisher: Rand Corporation
Total Pages: 833
Release: 2006-09-08
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0833040685

As U.S. military forces appear overcommitted and some ponder a possible return to the draft, the timing is ideal for a review of how the American military transformed itself over the past five decades, from a poorly disciplined force of conscripts and draft-motivated "volunteers" to a force of professionals revered throughout the world. Starting in the early 1960s, this account runs through the current war in Iraq, with alternating chapters on the history of the all-volunteer force and the analytic background that supported decisionmaking. The author participated as an analyst and government policymaker in many of the events covered in this book. His insider status and access offer a behind-the-scenes look at decisionmaking within the Pentagon and White House. The book includes a foreword by former Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird. The accompanying DVD contains more than 1,700 primary-source documents-government memoranda, Presidential memos and letters, staff papers, and reports-linked directly from citations in the electronic version of the book. This unique technology presents a treasure trove of materials for specialists, researchers, and students of military history, public administration, and government affairs to draw upon.

America's Army

America's Army
Author: Beth Bailey
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2009-11-23
Genre: History
ISBN: 0674035364

" ... the story of the all-volunteer force, from the draft protests and policy proposals of the 1960s through the Iraq War"--Jacket.

The U. S. Army's Transition to the All-Volunteer Force (1968-1974)

The U. S. Army's Transition to the All-Volunteer Force (1968-1974)
Author: Robert K. Griffith
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 321
Release: 1999-05
Genre:
ISBN: 0788178644

The all-volunteer force, the historic norm in peacetime America, was reestablished in the U.S. on 30 June 1973, when induction authority expired. But never before had the U.S. attempted to field a standing Army in peacetime -- based on voluntary enlistments -- with the worldwide responsibilities that faced this force. Since the mid-1980s the ability of the armed forces to recruit and retain quality volunteers has not been seriously questioned. This book takes us through those years of transition, examining both the context in which the end of the draft occurred and the perspective which the Army's leaders brought to bear on the challenge they faced.

The U.S. Army's Transition to the All-volunteer Force, 1968-1974

The U.S. Army's Transition to the All-volunteer Force, 1968-1974
Author: Robert K. Griffith
Publisher:
Total Pages: 328
Release: 1996
Genre: Government publications
ISBN:

The U.S. Army's Transition to the All-Volunteer Force is a compelling analysis of the process by which the Army responded to the requirements of creating an all-volunteer force, reestablished in the United States at midnight on 30 June 1973 when induction authority expired. That the transition from virtual dependency on the draft to a manpower system based on volunteerism was accomplished nearly simultaneously with the withdrawal from Vietnam is all the more remarkable. Robert K. Griffith Jr. takes us through the turbulent years of transition from 1968 to 1974, examining both the broad context in which the end of the draft occurred and the less well-known perspective that Army leaders brought to bear on the challenge they faced. In spite of an environment of fierce opposition, those charged with developing and implementing the Army's three-phased program to achieve all-volunteer status persevered and approached the task with a determination to succeed. Griffith's history shows the key role played by the Army staff and Army secretariat in shaping the Army as it underwent deep alterations in the very foundations of its structure. It provides both a glimpse into the dynamics of the reciprocal relationship between the Army and society, and is a useful case study of the successful management of fundamental organizational change.

Twenty Years of Service

Twenty Years of Service
Author: Brandon J. Archuleta
Publisher: University Press of Kansas
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2020-08-06
Genre: History
ISBN: 0700629769

Military pension policies are as old as the republic itself and reside at the intersection of American social, economic, and defense policy. But as the nation’s social and economic circumstances underwent dramatic changes over the last half century, military pension policy remained static, stuck in the personnel and retirement model of the industrial age. This book examines why. Integrating policy history, theory, and practice, Twenty Years of Service provides the most comprehensive examination of US military pension policy in a generation. Brandon J. Archuleta sets the stage with an exploration of the rise, evolution, and transformation of the veterans’ policy subsystem from the American Revolution through World War II. The ensuing theoretical overview explains how the military personnel policy subsystem achieved the autonomy it enjoyed from 1948 to 2018; it also offers a new perspective on autonomous policy subsystems in general, which helps to account for the long-term pension policy stasis. In practical terms, Archuleta explores the role of the successful 2015 Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission as an institutional venue for policy change during the congressional budget battles of the 2010s. Through extensive archival research, illustrative case studies, and field interviews with Pentagon bureaucrats, congressional staffers, veterans’ lobbyists, defense scholars, and journalists, Twenty Years of Service brings the policymaking process to life. Its insights will prove invaluable to policy scholars and defense practitioners alike.

Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society

Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society
Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2019-10-25
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309489539

The U.S. military has been continuously engaged in foreign conflicts for over two decades. The strains that these deployments, the associated increases in operational tempo, and the general challenges of military life affect not only service members but also the people who depend on them and who support them as they support the nation â€" their families. Family members provide support to service members while they serve or when they have difficulties; family problems can interfere with the ability of service members to deploy or remain in theater; and family members are central influences on whether members continue to serve. In addition, rising family diversity and complexity will likely increase the difficulty of creating military policies, programs and practices that adequately support families in the performance of military duties. Strengthening the Military Family Readiness System for a Changing American Society examines the challenges and opportunities facing military families and what is known about effective strategies for supporting and protecting military children and families, as well as lessons to be learned from these experiences. This report offers recommendations regarding what is needed to strengthen the support system for military families.

The All-volunteer Force

The All-volunteer Force
Author: Barbara A. Bicksler
Publisher: Potomac Books
Total Pages: 408
Release: 2004
Genre: History
ISBN:

Can America continue to maintain its military commitments without conscription?

The All-Volunteer Force

The All-Volunteer Force
Author: William A. Taylor
Publisher: University Press of Kansas
Total Pages: 360
Release: 2023-06-24
Genre: History
ISBN: 0700634819

The all-volunteer force (AVF), created in conjunction with the end of the draft in 1973, has been the most significant development in modern American military history. Since its inception, the influence of the AVF has reached far beyond the US armed forces, affecting the very character of American civil-military relations. While its successes and challenges continue to be widely discussed and fervently debated, one thing is certain: the AVF is critical to both US national security and the fabric of American society. The insightful, cogent, and provocative essays contained in this timely volume represent a crucial first step in assessing the AVF after fifty years of service. Here, fifteen renowned authors speak to vital issues that remain relevant today and will endure well into the future. The AVF has garnered both triumphs and shortcomings but continues to be an essential institution. Engaged dialogue about the AVF is crucial to ensure that it remains ready to meet and overcome potential threats and that policymakers address the central obstacles it faces today. The All-Volunteer Force is the most comprehensive assessment of the force since its advent and reveals the momentous sway the AVF has had on the military, government, and society in the United States. In crafting this far-reaching collection of essays, William A. Taylor examines the AVF in four distinct parts, analyzing its history, results, challenges, and implications. In doing so, this compelling book explores all the major facets of the AVF—past, present, and future. This dynamic volume brings together a multidisciplinary group of distinguished authors who each bring to bear important perspectives on specific aspects of the AVF. These contributors include leading scholars, general officers, civilian policymakers, and personnel experts who collectively provide a holistic assessment of the accomplishments and shortcomings of the AVF during its fifty years of service.

Bleeding Talent

Bleeding Talent
Author: T. Kane
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2017-07-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 113751129X

Shaping the debate on how to save the military from itself. The first part recognizes what the military has done well in attracting and developing leadership talent. The book then examines the causes and consequences of the modern military's stifling personnel system and offers solutions for attracting and retaining top talent.