solve its recruiting problems tomorrow if it
commanders prefer high-quality volunteers
to mixed-quality draftees."72 Retired Lt. Gen.
simply lowered its standards.
In fact, last year the Navy discussed a
Al Lenhardt, formerly the Army's chief
modest relaxation of standards that would
recruiter, emphasizes that conscription
would yield a poorer-quality force.73 Retired
help it meet its need for "general detail"
sailors, who perform largely unskilled
Maj. Gen. Ted Stroup, former Army deputy
tasks.68 In January Navy Secretary Richard
chief of staff for personnel, says that a draft
might deliver the required quantity, "but you
Danzig decided to increase from 5 to 10
wouldn't get the quality or the staying power
percent the number of recruits who possess
that you also need."74 The Pentagon observes:
a GED instead of a high school diploma. In
response to his service's recruiting difficul-
ties this year, Army Secretary Caldera has
Periodically, there are laments from
made a similar proposal. He complains that
some outside the Defense establish-
the strict high school graduation require-
ment regarding the absence of the
ment "has put us in a box that is really hurt-
draft. If only the draft were operating
ing our ability to recruit."69
again, the nostalgic arguments go,
representation would be assured,
Although no doubt exists that higher
declining propensity would be coun-
quality is desirable--brighter recruits with
tered, women would not be needed
more education perform better and are
to substitute for men, and all would
more likely to finish their tours--the
be well. These assumptions turn out
Pentagon's specific goals are arbitrary. Two
to be more wishful thinking than
years ago the Army reduced its objective for
iron-clad reality.75
high school diploma graduates from 95 to
90 percent. Lt. Gen. Frederick Vollrath, the
Army's deputy chief of staff for personnel,
The AVF attracts superior personnel for
acknowledged that the former standard
two important reasons. First, the services can
"was not based on any absolute analytical
choose not to accept people who are not high
requirement in order to sustain the force."70
school graduates and so-called Category IVs
and Vs, people who score well below average
According to Vollrath, the recruiting com-
on the AFQT. As the Department of Defense
mand had set the higher goal because it
puts it, "Non-graduates and persons with
thought that goal was achievable.
lower aptitude scores would be more vulner-
As a result, despite its current problems,
able to Uncle Sam's draft call than they
the AVF remains a far higher quality force
would be to today's invitation to enlist."76
Despite its cur-
than the military of the draft era. On the
important measures of high school gradua-
Moreover, a volunteer military draws in
rent problems,
tion and scores on the Armed Forces
people who want to be there instead of dra-
the AVF remains
Qualifying Test (AFQT), today's military is
gooning people who do not, thereby creat-
far superior. The percentage of "high-quality"
ing a dramatically more positive dynamic.
a far higher quali-
enlistees--that is, those with high school
Thus, the military can discharge soldiers
ty force than the
degrees and above-average scores on the
who abuse drugs, perform poorly, or are
military of the
not otherwise suited to service life.77 In con-
AFQT--jumped 50 percent between 1973
and 1997.71 Indeed, the AVF is providing the
trast, the services must retain draftees at all
draft era.
cost, lest indiscipline become a means of
best military personnel that America has ever
escape.78 All phases of military life are trans-
had. (See Appendix, Tables 24.)
For that reason, few leaders in the armed
formed for the better when the armed
services would like to return to conscription.
forces are made up of people who join vol-
Gordon Sullivan, former Army chief of staff
untarily and desire to succeed.
and current president of the Association of
Career retention has long been a Pentagon
concern.79 However, conscription would
the United States Army, states, "Military
7