Unlocking the Full Potential of the Military's Transformative Power

It has been well covered by various media outlets from radio to television to print to film that those men and women who make up the ranks of today's United States military disproportionately come from among the working class and working poor. However, one of my closest friends from childhood is atypical in this regard. He comes from an upper-middleclass, prep-school background. He enlisted in the summer of 2002 just before the Bush administration began to hype-up allegations that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. He had no misgivings when he enlisted. Regardless of administration claims, he felt that Hussein was a brutal dictator who needed to be dealt with.

The change in my friend could be seen almost immediately. He went from being an intelligent kid searching for direction in life, to someone who now feels fulfilled in the work that he is doing, truly applying himself to life. Like many before him, he has genuinely been transformed by service in the military. It is still a profession where people can find purpose and direction in and leave with tremendous skills to re-enter civilian life.

But as I said, my friend is somewhat atypical. Growing up as a child of privilege, the Army was not the only option among an abundance of bad ones. He was in college when he enlisted. His options would be wide open once he graduated. With this as his situation, he chose the Army, and it has served him tremendously. There is no doubt that for most men and women who join the armed services tremendous opportunity and experience will be granted them. Yet for too many today, the military represents the only option that will bring a positive return. What this means is that there has been no real competition for these soldiers. The military has not won out in a truly competitive environment. As a result, without questioning the commitment of those who join and fight in the armed forces, it is the case that they have not made choices in the way that my good friend did.

I truly believe in our United States military. Its ranks are filled by the bravest and most self-sacrificing men and women in our country. What I also believe is that we owe Americans choices. That is one of the supposed blessings of liberty, a free society, capitalism. The working class and working poor deserve the education that will allow them to have options when they consider joining the military. It is important for our competitive future, but it will also more fully unlock the tremendous transformative power of service in uniform.