National Service a Strategic Necessity

The success of the all volunteer force (AVF), since it's inception in 1973, at fighting America's wars has truly been outstanding. The current administration and the leadership at the Department of Defense (DoD) are adamant in their support of the AVF for supplying the manpower for now and into the future. While the transition to this force has been successful in meeting current manpower requirements for the DoD, has this smaller AVF eroded the military's support base in American culture and society? This paper will examine some of the possible negative effects of the current AVF as it relates to the following questions: (1) Has the smaller AVF created a culture gap between U.S. military and civilian society?, and (2) Does this culture gap affect the Nation's will to meet future manpower needs? The intent of this paper is to address the possible ramifications of this culture gap and its overall affect on U.S. society's willingness to supply the Army's manpower needs. This assessment will look at National Service as a possible solution for creating a positive American culture that could generate and sustain the Nation's will to support the military's manpower requirements. USAWC Strategy Research Project.