Description
The American military's All-Volunteer Force (AVF) recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. At the time of the post-Vietnam War move to end American military conscription, it was unclear whether a force comprised solely of volunteers could effectively meet the nation's security needs. Yet over the past twenty years, the AVF has grown larger, more generously resourced, and more capable than it had ever previously been absent an active major conflict. In Bend But Do Not Break, a broad range of experts assess the long-term viability of the AVF. To do this, they address a host of challenges facing the AVF and, by extension, the politicized environment in which it operates. An informed and balanced look at the AVF, this book considers the future of the force and asks the wider question of whether it continues to serve the needs of national security or individuals in the military.
Table of Contents
Foreword: AVF Debates and the Historical Significance of the Moment-Eliot A. CohenIntroduction: An Inflection Point-Jaron S. Wharton and Jason DempseyChapter 1: The Civil-Military Gap and the Future of Recruiting and Mobilization-Marybeth UlrichChapter 2: Population Demographics and Recruiting Considerations from a Macro Perspective-Dennis LaichChapter 3: Polarization, Politicization, and the Future of Democratic Civil-Military Relations-Ronald R. Krebs and Robert RalstonChapter 4: Can Our Military Be Political Without Becoming Partisan?-Bishop Garrison and Kori SchakeChapter 5: Norm Deterioration in U.S. Civil-Military Relations-Risa A. Brooks and Heidi A. UrbenChapter 6: The Future of the "All-Volunteer Family"-Miriam Krieger Chapter 7: Money Matters: Modernizing the Military Compensation System-Brandon J. ArchuletaChapter 8: Displaced not Replaced: People, Technology, and the Future of the All-Volunteer Force-Cole LivieratosChapter 9: Balancing Military Influence in National Security-Todd Schmidt and Ambassador David MillerChapter 10: Diminishing Legislative Oversight: Congress and the AVF-Danielle L. LuptonChapter 11: The Future Adventures of the All-Volunteer Force-Keith L. Carter, Max Z. Margulies, and Isaiah Wilson IIIChapter 12: The Future of the Total Force: What Will It Mean to Be a Citizen-Soldier?-Jessica D. Blankshain and Lindsay P. Cohn Chapter 13 What Should We Owe Our Veterans?-Michael MeeseConclusion: Sustaining the All-Volunteer Force-Carrie A. LeeAfterword: Trust in the Military and the Legitimacy of the All-Volunteer Force-Peter D. FeaverBibliographyIndex
