A furthering apathetic, disconnected public compounded by military illiterate politicians and our progressive cultural autonomy has increasingly polarized our military-civilian relationship. We can address these issues and close the military-civilian gap by reducing forces, reinstating the selective service, creating an environment where military members can openly lobby opinions and instilling a culture shift with the integration and education of the public and its infrastructure.
Since the beginning of the millennial era, one in three Americans shares an immediate relation to anyone with a military background compared to three of four Americans pre 1955. This sharp decrease in relation has spurned a society that lacks an emotional investment and sense of ownership in the application of its military. This has led to apathetic decision making by its delegation, with no real consequences to the civilian majority. A vast reduction in troops and reenactment of the selective service is required to reinstall a sense of ownership and emotional attachment from the public. Reduction in troops to a level sizeable enough to accomplish homeland defense and minor expeditious missions would require the public to more closely manage military resources and weigh in on the necessity of conflict much like President Eisenhower and his staff did when United States man power ranked 19th in the world. This reduction in troop levels would also call on the public to engage in foreign policy, as selective service would call on the public to meet manpower requirements in participation of ulterior conflicts, absorbing the consequences and fueling a bond between human emotion and policy.
While today’s American’s approach towards military policy remains apathetic, the political delegation ruling on military decisions is further more detached and militarily illiterate. Like the military,