Author Description

Senior Government and Military Leaders have recently expressed concern over the growing gap between America's Military and the public it protects. The demographic of the Armed Forces is no longer representative of the entire population, and the disparity between the guarded and their guardians leads to a lack of understanding of what the military does when it is not directly on a T.V. screen in America's living rooms. The American Military is a highly professional force but has become more of a private (Legion like) than a public institution. Without a common understanding or vested interest in the men and women of the military, the American public remains a spectator while decisions are made on resourcing and employing the force. This Strategy Research Project demonstrates how the demographics of our nation's military contribute to the civil-military gap and outlines the challenges the gap creates. It offers recommendations for narrowing the gap and warns of future challenges if the situation does not improve.