Milton Friedman on The draft and the volunteer army
The end of the draft has not ended controversy about the draft. In recent months the news media have carried story after story alleging that the volunteer armed force is a failure. Volunteers, it is said, are too few and of poor quality, despite substantial pay raises for first-termers.
Volunteer Armed Force: Failure or Victim?
Column, 1974, Newsweek, February 11, 1974; reprinted in the Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, February 27, 1974, p. 4572, introduced by Representative William A. Steiger of Wisconsin, who cites it as appearing “in the February 11 Newsweek”, Congressional Record, February 27, 1974, p. 4572
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The draft was ended despite the opposition of the military. I have wondered whether the military, encouraged by Watergate and Laird’s departure from Defense, may not have been feeding the stories to the media in an attempt to reverse the decision.
Volunteer Armed Force: Failure or Victim?Column, 1974, Newsweek, February 11, 1974; reprinted in the Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, February 27, 1974, p. 4572, introduced by Representative William A. Steiger of Wisconsin, who cites it as appearing “in the February 11 Newsweek”, Congressional Record, February 27, 1974, p. 4572Checked against the sourceRead the originalThe Air Force, Navy and, to a lesser extent, the Marines have had no significant problems. On the contrary, they not only have met their quotas but also have raised the average quality of the enlisted force.
Volunteer Armed Force: Failure or Victim?Column, 1974, Newsweek, February 11, 1974; reprinted in the Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, February 27, 1974, p. 4572, introduced by Representative William A. Steiger of Wisconsin, who cites it as appearing “in the February 11 Newsweek”, Congressional Record, February 27, 1974, p. 4572Checked against the sourceRead the originalThe alleged failures have all been in the Army. They have been significant, though fairly small. At the end of 1973 the Army conceded that it had met 89 percent of its 1973 recruiting goal. Far more important, the failures have been the result of either gross incompetence or deliberate sabotage by some retired officers in civilian position. This is a harsh judgment, so let me document it.
Volunteer Armed Force: Failure or Victim?Column, 1974, Newsweek, February 11, 1974; reprinted in the Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, February 27, 1974, p. 4572, introduced by Representative William A. Steiger of Wisconsin, who cites it as appearing “in the February 11 Newsweek”, Congressional Record, February 27, 1974, p. 4572Checked against the sourceRead the original
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