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The All- Volunteer Force: Thirty Years of Service
by Curtis L. Gilroy, Barbara A. Bicksler, John T. Warner
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Potomac Books Inc. (2004-11-29)
ISBN: 1574889206
EAN: 9781574889208
Dewey Decimal #: 355.2230973
Paperback: 396 pages
SKU: 101708000140
Condition: Very Good
Comments: 1574889206 New, never read, may have minor wear on cover.
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Throughout most of the twentieth century, American military personnel were drafted into service. A conscripted force served the nation in both world wars, Korea, and Vietnam. But in the late 1960s, the draft came under intense scrutiny and was viewed by the American public with growing dissatisfaction and a sense of inequity. The mounting unease over the draft prompted President Richard Nixon to establish a special commission—The President’s Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force, also known as the Gates Commission—to study the alternatives. After much debate within the Administration and Congress over the feasibility and affordability of a volunteer military, the draft was abolished, and on July 1, 1973, the All-Volunteer Force (AVF) was born. It was perhaps the most important transformation of the U.S. military in the past century. Editors Bicksler, Gilroy, and Warner have presented the proceedings of a high-level conference commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the AVF. Their book begins with reflections from several of the Gates Commission members on the beginnings of the AVF and its many successes over the years. The balance of the volume is devoted to the challenges the Department of Defense will face in sustaining the AVF in the future in light of recent U.S. troop commitments around the globe. Topics addressed include future recruiting and retention, Reserve component contributions, and transformation in military manpower and personnel policy. The All-Volunteer Force is a vital resource for defense professionals, journalists, politicians, and all citizens concerned about future U.S. defense policy.
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Customer Reviews
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Report on a Conference on the First Thirty Years
Rating  (5)
Date: 2005-05-16
0 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
The development of the All Volunteer Force (AVF) has moved the United States closer to the rest of the civilized world. Virtually all of the developed countries in Europe, Asia, and around the world have gone to a non-draft mode.
The results have been astounding, far exceeding what the original proponents had predicted. The troops (and we are really just talking about the Army as the other forces were all volunteer before) that we have now are: smarter, better educated, more law abiding (a criminal record keeps you out of the service), use fewer drugs, have a higher esprit de corp, and re-enlist at a higher rate.
This book is a report based on a conference of people with direct experience with the AVF. It is based on the first thirty years of the AVF. The report is broken down into five parts:
The All-Volunteer Force in Perspective
Sustaining the Force: Recruiting and Retention
Reserve Component Contributions to the All-Volunteer Force
Transformation in Military Manpower and Personnel Policy
The Next Decade.
I have heard rumors in the press that currently enlistments are down because of the war in Iraq. Doing a quick search on the internet shows a lot of smoke and noise, but little real data. Everyone opposed to the war seems to have a web page saying that recruitment is down, and we must get out of Iraq, etc. Other pages say that the military is increasing incentives and attracting the number and quality of the people they need.
In the long run, I doubt that we will return to the draft, but I suppose if the anti-war people are successful ....
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