Our country operates under a complex civ-mil relation between two different sides of the government: a civilian sector and a military sector. While Dr. Peter Feaver argues the civilian sector should gain more control over the military, an extreme push to that idea may be detrimental to our government. It is important for the military personnel to enjoy some degree of freedom from the civilian counterparts when in an operation, but a complete disregard of the politicians and their expectations and directions may also be critical to the functioning of our government. It is, therefore, crucial to determine and shape the proper balance between two sides of the government rather than empowering one side too much.
The gap between the civilian sector and the military personnel is increasing these past few decades. Although the social norms years ago indicated the elite society and the military ran parallel to each other, the high ranking officials and other contemporary social elites do not involve
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As situations in the 21st Century features military operations largely being influenced by political decisions, the military sector should act more independently from their civilian counterparts. Since not many social and political elites are associated with military figures anymore, there is less chances for the politicians to understand matters of the military. It is military personnel that best understand what is happening in this country in terms of military related. Although the very own nature of National Security also heavily depends on political decisions, the growing civilian influence on military may not be as effective as if military had more control and power over its own
Theory. The term ‘civil-military relations’ is often used to describe the relationship between civil society and its associated military force, moreover the fundamental basis upon which the civilian authority exercises control over its military organization. It is generally accepted that ‘civilian control of the military is preferable to military control of the state’ and although there are states that do not conform to this norm, they tend to be less developed countries that have succumb to military interven...
The United States Army is an important subculture within our society. It has many uniquely defining attributes, which separate it from the general culture and from the subcultures of the other branches of the military. The Army’s subculture is critical to the effective operation and discipline of the Army. The Army is critical to the survival of our country, our society, and our way of life. Only certain individuals are willing to accept the demands of this subculture to be soldiers in order to preserve our freedoms for their own, and future, generations.
The military since the Colonial Era has been an impetus for social reform in the United States. The Revolutionary War afforded Black Americans an opportunity to escape from the toils of slavery and fight for freedom. Some Black Americans even earned their freedom by fighting for the Colonists, but still the freedom they fought for wasn’t their own. However, the military was responsible for the freedom of many slaves and some of these freed slaves became legendary soldiers like Salem Poor. His performance in battle gave credibility for future arguments about blacks being allowed to serve.
Over the years America has been in countless wars, which has exposed the people and their society's ideals to the military's influence. The United States were founded on the spilling of blood which is justified through the act of battle. Military branches have developed since they were first brought into being as the “Minutemen”, but one thing that hasn't changed over time is the people's’ trust. Andrew Bacevich exploits America's dependence and idealisation of their armed forces, as well as explains how the belief came to be.
The same idea of an unwavering hierarchy that extends beyond title and into the deep roots of merit are inherent in both concepts. Even dealing with other branches of service, there are certain expectations to be upheld when dealing with an officer, a senior enlisted, and even with your peers. Officers are saluted by enlisted members, just as junior enlisted members stand at parade rest when addressing Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO). This level of respect would continue on into a civilian environment, although no saluting would be present in civilian attire. For example, a lower enlisted member could be at a restaurant or a bar over the weekend and happen to see his Company Commander. Even out of the work environment and military setting, the should still subtly take each other’s rank into account with everything said, such as a “Sir” every now and then from the enlisted member as well as avoiding certain comments that could get a soldier in trouble when dealing with his Chain of Command. This same level of military bearing will also carry on into encounters with civilians as military members and prior service member can almost always be spotted in a crowd with relative ease. Bearing can be taught at a basic level, but one must have the initiative to follow the guidance set before them and behave a certain
The military sciences field of study stands to learn the most from this new structure because militaries have traditionally been the most hierarchical organizations in society. Their hierarchical structure has clear benefits, but also some potential cons. An con of the hierarchical structure found in militaries is that only a select few make decisions that endanger the lives of millions. If the people on the “bottom of the totem poll” were making decisions, there would likely more wariness of
...s in the cohesiveness and mutual trust between the military and the people ' ( AH Nasution , 1953 , ... ) .
Snider, D. M. (2008). Dissent and strategic leadership of the military professions. Carlisle Barracks, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College.
The United States currently has a national debt of over $19 trillion dollars, with that figure steadily increasing at a rate of about $1 trillion every year since 2012. As a result, the defense spending budget for America has been a widely discussed topic as we seem to have lost control of our spending. For instance, before the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States had spent an average of $280 billion each year on its Defense Budget. Following the attacks, however, that number has soared and the expected budget for the fiscal year 2017 was estimated to be upwards of $850 billion (Otto 2015). That increased spending was justified by many due to America’s level of involvement in conflicts both in Iraq and Afghanistan that have spanned the last decade. However, as wars have slowly come to a halt for the United States, the need to regain control of our spending has become apparent.
In this monograph you will be educated on the history of the United States Army from when and why the branch was originally formed to its present-day eminence. As the greater part of the Unites States Army’s global interactions is war time situations. I also highlighted on in global history is the humanitarian missions in the United States Army has conducted that usually go unnoticed. I also expound on some of the key leaders that stood out in our nation’s wars that had a great influence in why we have never lost a war. This paper will highlight on the concepts of the United States Army and how this branch has brought the concept of change to the world and how its concepts of leadership has allowed it evolve into most dominant force in the
Militarism, a policy or principle of supporting the maintenance of a large military establishment, is more than just war and destruction of life notes James A. Donovan, a retired military general and author of Militarism, U.S.A. (25). The military is involved in nearly every aspect of our daily lives. Economic, social, cultural, and our natural world are immensely affected. Stephen E. Ambrose and James Barber, editors of The Military and American Society, assert that the military dictates our foreign policies, economic policies, allocation of natural resources, college and university programs and funding, degradation of the environment, and the education of millions of non-highschool graduates (4).
The paper examines the complexities of civil-military relationships from the past till to date. Further, it interprets the viewpoints of authors: Peter D. Feaver in his article, ‘Armed Forces & Society’ and Marybeth P. Ulrich’s article ‘The Runaway General’. Authors’ interpretations signify how far the US is fair in treatment of civil-military relations. In the end, the paper suggests ways to coordinate relations between armed forces and civilian government.
The role of the military in any country is one of prestige. Unless having been through it personally, one could not imagine willingly subjecting oneself to the rigorous training received by so many young men and women today. The role played by the military is always to protect, defend, and assist its country in both war and peacetime, but in developing nations there are quite different roles as well. To be a leader in the armed forces, one must be strong both physically and mentally, as well as having a certain charisma, or skill with people. This is true because in order to lead, one must appeal to those he or she is leading. Not only does a developing country have armed forces for defense, but on occasion, the leaders of third world militaries use them for the overthrow of their own government. Currently serving as a soldier(reservist), I can identify with the saying, "spilling blood in the mud ," as we are trained, contracted, and sworn to do so on command, but if ever asked to help plan or execute an act against our government, I would be appalled.
Although in other countries they make every citizen do one year or more of military service, America doesn’t make anyone practice in the military. Being in military training for at least one year isn’t a choice that most american citizens would like to be mandatory.
First-hand experience leading soldiers executing national military strategy provided me visceral proof of the influence of non-state armed groups on human security. As a peacekeeper in Kosovo, I witnessed competing ethnic groups provoke conflict and degrade security in confounding ways. Invisible lines divided villages where a random rifle shot might spark a string of reprisals my soldiers and I were almost powerless to stop because we understood so little about our adversaries or historical context. Subsequent experiences conducting counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan again immersed me in the turmoil created by