As we celebrate Independence Day, let’s consider how we can make America stronger.
This month marks the anniversary of America’s birthday and the creation of its all-volunteer military. While many Americans will be celebrating the Fourth of July at home this year, it is a good time to reflect on the tradition of service present at this nation’s founding and to consider how more Americans can answer the call to serve today.
The National Commission on Military, National and Public Service’s duty was to consider this question. Over the last two years, the Commission has traveled and spoken with everyday Americans and service leaders in communities across the country. We have been inspired by the countless examples of people who give their time, energy, and talents to help others — delivering meals to seniors, mentoring at-risk youth, fighting opioid addiction, preserving public lands, and wearing the uniform to protect our freedoms.
Public servants continuously contribute to the security of the country and the safety of our communities. And right now, Americans are profoundly grateful for the work of public servants, as they endeavor to keep our community infrastructure functioning during a global pandemic.
And right now, thousands of other public servants, military service members, and volunteers are helping stem the spread of the coronavirus. More than 27,000 National Guard personnel have supported the response through conducting COVID-19 testing, meal deliveries, constructing care facilities, and other functions. These young men and women in uniform understand the costs and rewards of service.
However, today the All-Volunteer Force relies on a population of young Americans who are largely unable to meet the requirements for military service. An estimated 71 percent of youth ages 17 to 24 are not eligible to join the military because they do not meet physical and mental health standards or educational requirements, among others.
This challenge was one of many that our Commission examined in the course of our work. Our final report, released in late March, contains 164 recommendations to strengthen all forms of service to address national security and domestic challenges, invigorate civil society, and strengthen our democracy. Included in our report is a series of recommendations to create a more resilient, capable, and stronger All-Volunteer Force.
The All-Volunteer Force must remain strong, sustainable, and able to recruit and retain qualified individuals with the skills necessary to meet current and emerging threats. Our recommendations would increase awareness of the military, inspire more Americans to serve, and enhance the military’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel critical to the long‐term success of the All‐Volunteer Force.
Our recommendations in this area include:
· Increased investment in recruiting resources for underrepresented markets and hometown-recruiting programs, and;
· Expansion of youth citizenship programs such as Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and promoting the broader use of tools such as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program, which is currently taken by less than 5 percent of U.S. secondary school students.
Collectively, these recommendations will enable more students to learn about citizenship and service, gain familiarity with the military, and understand how their own strengths could translate into military careers and other service options.
These and other recommendations would increase awareness of the realities of military life and foster greater engagement between the military and the broader American public, enhancing the military’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel.
As a bipartisan group of Commissioners who have backgrounds in public service, nonprofit work, national service and military service, we can attest that the personal rewards of serving your communities and country can be profound. In doing for others, individuals gain a sense of purpose, achievement, and pride.
On this Independence Day, as we celebrate 244 years as a nation, let’s consider how we can make America stronger. Service to our country and our fellow Americans is the path forward, and we have the roadmap.
