The Evolution of the All-Volunteer Force

Rand Corporation ^ | Dec. 2006 | Rand

[Michael.SF.]

Educational level. The most recent statistics show that 92 percent of the new accessions to the active-duty force are high school graduates. The figure for the reserve components is 87 percent. This is a dramatic increase from the 1973 goal of 45 percent and today’s goal of 79 percent. In addition, 95 percent of active-duty officers have baccalaureate degrees, and 38 percent have advanced degrees.

[Michael.SF.]

I was reading this report in a Rand magazine, while traveling. The full report (which does cost) gives lots of tables and data on the state of our current military and strongly refutes what both Kerry and the libs in general have been saying.

The link takes you to a summary of the report and a full copy can be downloaded for a fee (I am not pluggng Rand, but just putting up a link for those who may want more detailed information).

[ODC-GIRL]

And a growing percentage of Enlisted personnel have at least Associate's degrees. 5 of my subordinates are currently using the GI Bill to complete Bachelor's degrees and 2 are working on Master's Degrees.

Kerry has no clue about the modern military. I'd be happy to "educate" HIM!

[KarlInOhio]

If they were smart they would have married billionaires twice instead of being in the military. < /sarcasm>

[GSlob]

"Socioeconomic status. Recruits come primarily from families in the middle or lower middle classes. The high end of the distribution is not well represented."
I see the root of a problem here. To minimize the disconnect and increase the social cohesion, one needs to do something reasonably drastic about the high end of distribution. That would put the "elites" to rights. It does not have to be conscription - an enforced requirement of military service as an admission to the "elite" could do much the same.

[lonestar67]

What a perfectly circular argument.

The high end of the statistical distribution is not well represented.

Maybe that is why they call it the high end of the distribution.

[GSlob]

The argument is not circular in the least. Representation of the upper class in the military is well below its statistical weight in the total population. There are 7 million millionaire households in the country - it is something like 1 in 20 households. Well, is their military representation anything even remotely similar?

[lonestar67]

Your question is the question.

I for one am not paying the fee to find out.

I am also suspicious that high incomes are correlated with age. this means a 50 year old is more likely to be rich than an 18 year old. This could easily dwarf the poor poor people thesis.

[Michael.SF.]

Well, is their military representation anything even remotely similar?

As I recall in looking at the complete article, they do discuss this and a table was included. They compared the relative wealth of enlisted men's families today vs. that in previous years and it is a higher percentage today then in the past, but still low compared to middle class and the lower economic class. However, even during the years of the draft, the wealthy were still underrepresented compared to others.

[GSlob]

I'm afraid you missed the word households. A household includes not only a 50yrs old millionaire, but also the spouse and all those listed on his/her 1040 as dependents. Assuming similar fecundity, one would say that something like 5% [make it 4] of 18 yr olds in the country come from that kind of a background. More, one could move to age 22 [after college] and get the same ratio.

[GSlob]

They could include the officer corps as well, and not limit themselves to the enlisted men. I see a social disconnect, which could be outright dangerous. Something functionally equivalent to Roman "cursus honorum" could probably work to remedy it.

[Michael.SF.]

I'm on the road again tomorrow the article was in Rand magazine at the red Carpet Club, I believe they have this magazine at all Red Carpet Clubs, if they do, I will get a copy.

[ODC-GIRL]

Well there is that!