Changing U S Military Manpower Realities

Manpower—qualified, experienced, and in adequate supply—is considered by many to be the keystone of the U.S. capability to deter or wage war. But can the all-volunteer force (AVF) continue to attract and retain the quantity and quality of active and reserve forces required to meet the security needs of the nation? The contributors to this collectio

This book presents recent research on major manpower issues, including recruitment problems, the military family, the role of women, racial problems, economic concerns, and the concept of the citizen-soldier. It explores hitherto underresearched issues concerning U.S. military manpower.

Explaining America's rise as a global military power challenges the methodologies of military history. This volume looks beyond the major conflicts covered elsewhere in the Library to explore the operational, conceptual, technological and cultural forces that shaped the United States military after the American Civil War. Individual articles reflect the wide range of topics and approaches that contribute to the growing understanding of the American military and its relationship with its parent society.

As the U.S. military moves into an uncertain future dominated by rapid change, traditional modes of thought will no longer suffice. Contributors to this volume focus on some of the major factors that will shape the American military in the 1980s: a complex, interdependent international arena, a changing domestic political context, broad societal forces and trends, the imperatives of advanced technology, conflicting bureaucratic and management orientations, and the emergence of new elites. The articles collected here present the diverse views of civilian scholars, of all services and ranks of the military, and of Department of Defense and congressional civilians; they feature the results of surveys conducted at the three service academies and among other civilian and military populations that number in the tens of thousands. The focus moves from a historical and current assessment of military professionalism to potential influences in the changing international and domestic environments. A major section is devoted to important military manpower issues. Analyses of organizational dynamics and change address the implications of advanced technology, bureaucratization, and centralization of control. The book concludes with contrasting views of the future demands on military professionalism and with a final summary that suggests future research avenues.

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.