The all-volunteer force (AVF), created in conjunction with the end of the draft in 1973, has been the most significant development in modern American military history. Since its inception, the influence of the AVF has reached far beyond the US armed forces, affecting the very character of American civil-military relations. While its successes and challenges continue to be widely discussed and fervently debated, one thing is certain: the AVF is critical to both US national security and the fabric of American society. The insightful, cogent, and provocative essays contained in this timely volume represent a crucial first step in assessing the AVF after fifty years of service. Here, fifteen renowned authors speak to vital issues that remain relevant today and will endure well into the future.
The AVF has garnered both triumphs and shortcomings but continues to be an essential institution. Engaged dialogue about the AVF is crucial to ensure that it remains ready to meet and overcome potential threats and that policymakers address the central obstacles it faces today.
The All-Volunteer Force is the most comprehensive assessment of the force since its advent and reveals the momentous sway the AVF has had on the military, government, and society. In crafting this far-reaching collection of essays, William A. Taylor examines the AVF in four distinct parts, analyzing its history, results, challenges, and implications. In doing so, this compelling book explores all the major facets of the AVF—past, present, and future—that influence the military, government, and society in the United States.
This dynamic volume brings together a multidisciplinary group of distinguished authors who each bring to bear important perspectives on specific aspects of the AVF. These contributors include leading scholars, general officers, civilian policymakers, and personnel experts who collectively provide a holistic assessment of the accomplishments and shortcomings of the AVF during its fifty years of service.
Table of Content
List of Illustrations
Foreword, by David M. Kennedy
Series Editor’s Foreword
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Introduction. Advent of the All-Volunteer Force, William A. Taylor
Part One: History
1. Conscription, Amy J. Rutenberg
2. Economics,Michael Gibbs and Timothy J. Perri
3. Gates Commission, William A. Taylor
4. Race, Beth Bailey
Part Two. Results
5. Gender, Kara Dixon Vuic
6. Military Benefits, Jennifer Mittelstadt
7. Socioeconomics, Titus Firmin
Part Three. Challenges
8. Viability, Major General Dennis Laich
9. Efficiency, Lawrence B. Wilkerson
10. Reserve Components, Major General Jeffrey E. Phillips
Part Four: Implications
11. Military Culture, Adrian R. Lewis
12. Force Structure, Mark F. Cancian
13. The Civil-Military Gap, Marybeth P. Ulrich
Conclusion. The AVF’s Legacy after Fifty Years of Service, William A. Taylor
Chronology
About the Contributors
Index
About the author
William A. Taylor is the Lee Drain Endowed University Professor of Global Security Studies at Angelo State University and editor of the Studies in Civil-Military Relations series.
More ebooks from the same author(s) / Editor
4,890 Ebooks in this category
