...American Military Technology Gary Smith MIL 311 American Military History II Instructor Trevor Albertson March 2, 2014 Introduction “Technology shapes the conduct of war in a tremendous way. It determines how wars are fought, how armies are organized and also many of the limitations they have,” according to Krishnan (2008, p. 1). The United States armed forces have seen many innovations in military technology that have helped project the United States as a global leader in politics and military matters. World War II was the catapult that launched the United States onto the world stage and began the shift of American armed forces swing towards advancing military technology to maintain the ability to politically have significance throughout the globe. American dominance of military technology has continued from World War II through modern times, with a significant focus towards the future and private sectors being the important key to maintaining that dominance. World War II Technology Advancements Starting with technology advancement during World War II, the U.S. Navy did not advance as strongly as other branches. Aircraft carriers came of age and dominated as the main focus of fleets, while submarines became incredible predators of the seas. The actual development of new ships was not really there, since the turn-around time of such an endeavor outweighed the benefits during wartime. However, the Navy did make strides in SONAR technology, which would...
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...King Philip’s War Frank T. DeNatale Dr. Wilkins American Military History I Columbia Southern University June 20, 2013 Frank T. DeNatale Dr. Wilkins American Military History I June 20, 2013 King Philip’s War Following the Pequots’ destruction, New England experienced nearly forty years of uneasy peace before King Philip’s War erupted in 1675. The war began in a small way in a limited area but eventually engulfed New England, bringing suffering to nearly all its English and native inhabitants. In June 1675, a few Wampanoags looted and burned several abandoned buildings in a frontier community. The destruction was more an act of vandalism than a military attack, but as so often in the relations between whites and Indians, seemingly inconsequential events had momentous consequences. Plymouth colonists mobilized to retaliate, the Wampanoags prepared to defend themselves, and before long a war was in progress. Fearful colonists wondered how many other tribes would join the Wampanoags and especially worried about the Narragansetts, the most powerful tribe in the area and the Wampanoags’ traditional enemies. Rather than abide fickle friends, the colonists delivered a preemptive strike against the Narragansetts, resulting in the war’s most famous battle, the Great Swamp Fight of December 19, 1675. The governor of Plymouth Colony, Josiah Winslow, commanded the 1,100 man force, composed of soldiers from Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Connecticut and a substantial contingent...
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...Homosexuality in the Military Leondre L. Torrance Instructor: Lisa Smoot Sociology 17 February 2012 Introduction Modern controversy over the rights of gay people to serve in the military aside, the reality is that homosexuality as existing within the military is as old as the history of armed forces. Clearly, it cannot be otherwise, as homosexuality itself is an orientation within humanity, and consequently as old as mankind's origins. What changes is sociological perspective, and nowhere is this factor more keenly evident than in how the overt presence of homosexuality is acknowledged by the military and accepted by the societal base. Different cultures of different epochs have viewed this subject in varying ways, depending, not unexpectedly, on the belief systems in place in those cultures. No matter its direct purpose or size, the military of any nation must still be a representation of that nation's values. Consequently, the perceptions of each regarding homosexuality translate to how acceptable, or unacceptable, it is within the armed forces. It is therefore all the more interesting that the United States, arguably the most liberal and democratic of modern nations, has so long reflected an ambiguity, if not outright hostility, regarding gays in the military rarely seen in ancient, and supposedly less enlightened, eras. The U.S. consistently prides itself on a commitment to individual liberties, and most emphatically since the turbulence of the...
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...that received full American support. The draft, known today as compulsory conscription, was an integral part of that war. Seventy percent of American men aged 18 to 35 served. The common experience shared amongst these men created lifetime friendships for an entire generation. No other conflict since then has come close to producing such national unification and pride of citizenry. So states Charles Moskos, late professor of sociology for Northwestern University, recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for the U.S. Army, and a draftee for the U.S. Army Combat Engineers (Moskos). Currently, however, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the official estimate of the American veteran population is approximately 24,816,000 (“Veteran”). Total U.S. population exceeds 301 million people (“The New Boomers”). In other words, the ratio of veterans to the total U.S. population is less than 10%. Comparison of these figures reflects that American enlistment ratios in the U.S. Armed forces have decreased dramatically since World War II. The U.S. is a dominant military force in the world today; however, it also has allies that it must help protect and defend in the name of democracy. As a result of the above, American forces are involved in multi-theater (or diverse worldwide) roles, both simultaneously and continuously, thus spreading out our troops over diverse areas. Additionally, the extended war on terrorism continues to deplete American military forces, and international...
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...Transformations of Military Technology Transformations of Military Technology The military is armed forces authorized to use lethal force, and weapons, to support the interest of the citizens, and the profession of soldiering goes many years back. The military’s primary reason of existing is to engage in combat and be victorious. This is the primary focus for all military throughout history. Tactics and methods are used for engaging and defeating the enemy in direct combat. However the soldiers and armies have come a long way from the spear, or the bow and arrow. The innovations along with changes in tactics and strategies were crucial to the evolution of warfare. In the middle ages the army, air force, marines, national guards, and navy did not exist. Medieval knights were the middle ages military. Knighthood was awarded to members of nobility. Normally a man must have been born the son of a knight in order to become one. At the age of seven or eight, a young knight would be sent away from home to begin formal knight training, in preparation to dominate the medieval battlefield. In this training, the most commonly used weapons for war were swords and the lance; by horseback riding knights wearing body-covering armor. In addition, the knights were taught to use a wide range of weaponry, from simple tools and farm implements to sophisticated acts of surrounding and attacking the enemy, for capture. Wounds inflicted on the battlefield were usually cuts to arms, legs and scalp;...
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...War is a harsh reality that the world has had to live with from the beginning of time. It has remained constant through out history and has given human beings an outlet to fight for what they believe in. There are three main areas of emphasis that are talked about frequently in the conversations about war and the history it has created. The first is the definition of war itself and what it actually means to the general public, historian community and to veterans themselves. The second is the costs and benefits that are accompanied with war. You have to also consider the sacrifices and negative impacts that war has had on the world since the beginning of time. Third is the history and recollection of what has happened in the past due to war and if the stories, information, and facts can actually be trusted or if they are just a perception of what happened on those many battlefields through out history. War has always been a constant through out history and will continue to be one far into the future due to the fact that it creates innovation, causes sacrifice and creates history that will shape the world we live in for as long as anyone could imagine. It is hard to define what war is in a single sentence and I also believe that it can be given many different meanings depending on what context you are looking at it in and whom you may ask for a definition. The definition provided in the course material is: war is the legal condition that defines the nature of conflict between...
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...Books for Military Children ENG 290 1422 South Tech Lane, Meridian, Idaho, 83642 November 26, 2013 Mr. Thomas Luna Superintendent State Board Of Education 650 West State Street, Boise, Idaho, 83720 Dear Mr. Luna, We are a concerned group of students from University of Phoenix who want to address a lack of appropriate reading material for our students from military families. These children, and their families, are seemingly always on the move. The culture shock a typical military child goes through every time his family moves can be stressful. Although there are communities within the confines of the base, the world outside the gates can be overwhelming and even scary. Within the gates and fences there is relative safety, and a sense of security. However, outside those parameters are challenges that most children may have no idea how to handle or what to expect when they arrive in their new temporary home. There is a need for children of military families to make friends easily, and to find a community of his or her peers, but many of them find it hard to be accepted into a group when continually viewed as a temporary “new kid.” Rarely do military children have lifelong friendships from their childhood. They will better equip themselves to make friends easier and form meaningful relationships if they would prepare themselves with a sneak peak at the culture they will be living in ahead of time. Our goal is to put more books regarding these issues into...
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...m Roxanne Rodriguez 10/28/10 English 101 Professor Murray Women in the Military: Warriors or a Liability? Since the dawn of time women have proved themselves in one way or another to be just as capable as men, so if a woman so chooses to risk her life fighting and engaging in hand to hand combat in a war to defend her country why shouldn’t she be allowed to? Women have dutifully served alongside and even in front of men in a line of combat throughout history which extends thousands of years into the past in many cultures and countries around the world. The warrior woman dates back to prehistoric times when individuals mostly fended for themselves to survive. During the Roman incursion into what is today England, there was Boadicea, the British warrior queen who led her people to battle against the Roman invaders. There was also Jinga, the majestic and murderous black queen who fought the Portuguese in seventeenth-century Angola. Modern western culture includes a famous and more popular example, Joan of Arc, who in 1429, at age 17, successfully led French troops into battle against the English. Even without the specific examples of these heroines, consider how, in our more recent history, hundreds of women have disguised themselves as men to fight in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. These acts are not just those of bravery, but true patriotism and those are the type of individuals who are needed in the line of duty to defend this great nation. A women’s restriction...
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...that received full American support. The draft, known today as compulsory conscription, was an integral part of that war. Seventy percent of American men aged 18 to 35 served. The common experience shared amongst these men created lifetime friendships for an entire generation. No other conflict since then has come close to producing such national unification and pride of citizenry. So states Charles Moskos, late professor of sociology for Northwestern University, recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for the U.S. Army, and a draftee for the U.S. Army Combat Engineers (Moskos). Currently, however, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the official estimate of the American veteran population is approximately 24,816,000 (“Veteran”). Total U.S. population exceeds 301 million people (“The New Boomers”). In other words, the ratio of veterans to the total U.S. population is less than 10%. Comparison of these figures reflects that American enlistment ratios in the U.S. Armed forces have decreased dramatically since World War II. The U.S. is a dominant military force in the world today; however, it also has allies that it must help protect and defend in the name of democracy. As a result of the above, American forces are involved in multi-theater (or diverse worldwide) roles, both simultaneously and continuously, thus spreading out our troops over diverse areas. Additionally, the extended war on terrorism continues to deplete American military forces, and international...
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...to enjoy our nation’s freedoms requires we as citizen’s to bear personal responsibility for defending them. And yet, today, while our nation continues to fight war on several fronts and must regularly contemplate new military interventions and increased domestic threats, less than 0.5 percent of our population serves in our armed forces. (Eikenberry & Kennedy) Futhermore, this minute percentage “ ... is disproportionately composed of racial, ethnic, and other demographic minorities.” (Kennedy) In part because of this gross disparity, few americans are forced shoulder any true sacrifice from our military actions. Not only is the familial sacrifice of having a loved one serve no longer widespread but the majority of us bear not the tanglible daily realization of being at war that past generations have known, including materials rationing. Even anti-war protests—like those that were a hallmark of our Vietnam War era—are less visible since we have moved to an all volunteer army. This lack of respresentational and fair accountability on our citizenry translates into less accountability on the part of the parties that govern our policies and therefore our military. This rift between those that serve, those that feel any effect and those that make military decisions is an argument for why we are ethically bound to require some mandatory service of our citizens, to reinstate the draft. Responsibility of citizenry/Social...
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...article Suicidal Ideation and Mental Distress among Adults with Military Service History: Results From 5 US States, 2010 b)Journal name, volume, and issue number American Journal of Public Health. Sep2014 Supplement 4, Vol. 104 Issue S4 c)Date the article was written 2013 d)Author(s) name Blosnich, John R.; Gordon, Adam J.; Bossarte, Robert M. e)Page number(s) (i.e., 45-46) pS595-S602 f)Database where the article was found Ebscohost 2. What was the purpose of the article (what was the author attempting to convey, research, etc.)? The authors were comparing the association of military service history with past-year suicidal ideation and past-30-days mental distress in a probability-based sample of adults. 3. What were the results of the study? The authors discovered that the military history status among those aged 40 to 64 years was associated with both past-year suicidal ideation and past-30-days mental distress. The authors found no significant associations among the younger or older age groups. 4. What are the recommendations given by the author for change, implementation, future research, etc.? It is possible that increases in suicidal behavior after separation from active-duty military service are related to disruptions in social networks and availability of other supportive resources. Research is needed to confirm the increased risk after separation from active-duty military service and investigate the relationship between transition and...
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...Gwyneth McKenna Military History 4/28/2015 Evolution of Compulsory Service The United States has long been involved in military affairs spanning several centuries. These endeavors require more than simply the machinery, tactical prowess, and financial support. They require manpower. Manpower is the backbone to any and every military operation throughout history. Unfortunately, the United States has not always had the amount of brave soldiers she needs to keep the enemy at bay. In order to combat this lack of manpower, conscription, more commonly known as “the draft”, has been needed to be employed. The military draft is a controversial topic; Serving one’s country is undeniably honorable, but what if it is not a choice? Should you be forced...
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...Name: Professor: Class: Date of submission: Child Soldiers: How the United States has an obligation to help them. In many parts of the world throughout history young children have been involved in armed conflicts. The destiny of the children who are recruited into armed conflict is tragically changed when they are forced to participate in the conflicts. Worldwide the number of child of ages ranging from 6-19 working as child soldiers is estimated to be over 250,000 (“Child soldiers”). These children are deprive of their chance to live a normal life like other young children in other parts of the world but instead are exposed both physical and psychological abuse which affect them for the rest of their lives. The problem of children getting involved in armed conflict as soldiers has grown in different third world countries and needs to be stopped. In this analysis paper the argument that the United States has an obligation to send our military to help the child soldiers around the world will be discussed. There are many different reasons given to support the argument that the United States has an obligation to help in improving the problem of child solders throughout the world. The first reason why the United States is obligated to help child soldiers is that in most cases the child soldiers are recruited by force to join the armed groups. The United States has been one of the leading countries in fighting human trafficking for both labour and sexual exploitation...
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...Name: Professor: Class: Date of submission: Child Soldiers: How the United States has an obligation to help them. In many parts of the world throughout history young children have been involved in armed conflicts. The destiny of the children who are recruited into armed conflict is tragically changed when they are forced to participate in the conflicts. Worldwide the number of child of ages ranging from 6-19 working as child soldiers is estimated to be over 250,000 (“Child soldiers”). These children are deprive of their chance to live a normal life like other young children in other parts of the world but instead are exposed both physical and psychological abuse which affect them for the rest of their lives. The problem of children getting involved in armed conflict as soldiers has grown in different third world countries and needs to be stopped. In this analysis paper the argument that the United States has an obligation to send our military to help the child soldiers around the world will be discussed. There are many different reasons given to support the argument that the United States has an obligation to help in improving the problem of child solders throughout the world. The first reason why the United States is obligated to help child soldiers is that in most cases the child soldiers are recruited by force to join the armed groups. The United States has been one of the leading countries in fighting human trafficking for both labour and sexual exploitation...
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...Reinstating the Military Draft The military draft has been used several times throughout the United States history. It has been used for different conflicts such as the World Wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. By 1973, the country switched to an all-volunteer military service, abandoning the concept of the military draft (Brisbane, par. 1). Congressman Charles Rangel planned to introduce a legislation calling for the draft reinstatement. If a military draft is reinstated, everyone, no matter what social class the person is, will have to do his or her part in the defense of our country. Of course there are people who oppose the military draft by saying that it is not very democratic and that it violates the freedom this country is know for fighting for. Congressman Rangel said, “There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm's way” (Williams, par. 1). Whether the military draft should or should not be reinstated is an ongoing debate that will never end. Many people believe that a compulsory draft violates one's personal freedom. Although some proponents of the military draft claim that anyone living in a society owes the society his liberty, and he should therefore be obligated to fight to preserve...
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