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Returning to a

Robert Kagan of the Carnegie Endowment

recruiting appeals are now directed more to

for International Peace complains, "If we're

self-actualization than to service. Another

more traditional,

not shaping the world, there are other, more

issue is promotion: are soldiers promoted

restrained inter-

dangerous people who'd like to step in and

on the basis of their competence in man-

national role

take our place."151 Although they might like

agement or in combat?158

to do so, those dangerous factions possess lit-

Journalist James Fallows, among others,

would reduce

tle ability to do so. Slobodan Milosevic is an

has blamed the AVF for civilianizing the mil-

pressure on the

egregious demagogue and thug, but a new

itary--that is, "converting its operating prin-

ciples to those of the workaday world."159 Yet

American armed

world order is not his concern. Indeed, the

many civil wars in the Balkans are the long-

it is inconceivable that the military, especially

forces.

term results of Woodrow Wilson's ill-fated

the kind of conscript force that draft advo-

attempt to shape the world by entering

cates say would be so representative of soci-

World War I. In short, those who want to

ety, could have been kept isolated from larger

impose a "Pax Americana" offer few benefits

currents in America. It would be hard enough

in return for the high costs, including pres-

to convince the public to countenance con-

sure for a return to conscription.

scription; it would be impossible to convince

the public to force the unfortunate few draftees

to live on a base, avoid marrying, and abstain

Military Culture

from the temptations of consumerism.

Moreover, it is our being at peace--not vol-

untarism--that raises questions about who

Another contentious issue is preserving

gets promoted and why. Peacetime militaries

(or perhaps restoring) the military's unique

are rarely well prepared for war. The AVF is

culture. The armed forces have always been

no different from its predecessors--for exam-

different. Wall Street Journal reporter Thomas

ple, the conscript force that was badly

Ricks writes, "Soldiers and their families give

mauled in the early days of the Korean War.

up many freedoms to this all-encompassing

society."152 Indeed, cultural differences between

A related concern is the transformation of

the military's mission from fighting wars to

the military and the civilian world have

international social engineering: peacekeep-

made it more difficult for some of those

leaving military service to find civilian work.153

ing, peacemaking, humanitarian relief, and

more. Such missions, temporarily at least,

Yet something seems to be changing:

degrade the fighting capacity of military

although the propensity for women between

units160 and may very well have a long-term

16 and 21 to enlist remained unchanged

between 1991 and 1994, that of young men

corrosive impact on the armed services. John

dropped by a third.154 Elaine Donnelly, presi-

Hillen of the Center for Strategic and

International Studies, a former Army officer

dent of the Center for Military Readiness,

who served in the Gulf War, observes, "I have

worries that "there is something wrong with

yet to run into anybody who joined because

the changes in the culture of the military that

they wanted to be a peacekeeper."161

is turning off young men, and young men are

the primary market."155

As they shrink the military's role, policy-

makers should consider those attributes of

How much of its fundamental appeal the

military service that have for centuries led

military has lost is a matter of serious

debate.156 Some people argue that issues like

patriotic young people to risk all on behalf

their fellow citizens. That analysis requires a

money and deployments are relatively unim-

serious review of recruiting appeals, promo-

portant; the real problem is "that the military

as an institution is being eroded."157

tion practices, training programs, service

education, military missions, and much

Part of that problem is whether service

more. The armed services might better

in the military has become more of an occu-

emphasize how they are different from civil-

pation than an institution. In particular,

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