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Military SciencesMilitary Forces and Organizations

The Civil-Military Gap in the United States. Does It Exist, Why, and Does It Matter?

Authors: Thomas S. Szayna; Kevin F. McCarthy; Jerry M. Sollinger; Linda J. Demaine; Jefferson P. Marquis; Brett Steele; RAND ARROYO CENTER SANTA MONICA CA
Abstract:
During the 1990s, many observers expressed concerns about the state of civilian-military relations in the United States. Although the expression of these concerns was muted in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on 9/11, the underlying issues they raised remain salient. Specifically, there is a potential for a civil-military gap to undermine military effectiveness by reducing support for defense budgets, increasing the difficulties of recruiting quality people to join the military, and dwindling public support for using military force, particularly where high casualties are likely. Some observers even worried that a growing civilian-military gap could undermine the principle of civilian control of the military. The armed services have an abiding interest in preventing problems that may reduce military effectiveness. Potential problems with resource availability and with recruitment and retention of personnel are basic concerns of the services, because they relate directly to tasks specified in Title 10 of the U.S. Code. Consequently, the Army asked RAND Arroyo Center to examine the evidence on the existence of a civil-military gap to determine how it might affect military effectiveness, what implications it might have on the U.S. actions to deal with trans-national terrorist groups, and, finally, to recommend actions that might close any breach that might exist.

Pages: 202
Report Date: 2007
Report Number: A974374

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Keywords relating to this report:
CASUALTIES
CIVILIAN POPULATION
CONTROL
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
MILITARY BUDGETS
MILITARY FORCES UNITED STATES
OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
PERSONNEL RETENTION
PUBLIC OPINION
RECRUITING
RESOURCES
SOCIOLOGY
UNITED STATES
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