Our orders are delivered strictly on time without delay
choose one of the following statements and make a 250-word written argument in support of it, citing specific examples.
(1) Civil-Military relations are worse than they have ever been in the last century and pose a threat to our democracy.
OR
(2) Civilians fail to understand the challenges faced by the U.S. military. This results in ineffective oversight, flawed strategy, and inadequate support and resources to achieve national security objectives.
Furthermore, inadequate support and resources can arise from a lack of civilian understanding. Budgetary decisions, often made with limited comprehension of the military's actual needs, can impact readiness and force modernization. The repeated budget cuts under sequestration, for instance, forced the military to make difficult choices, potentially affecting long-term strategic capabilities.
1
Finally, ineffective oversight is a consequence of this knowledge gap. When civilians lack a deep understanding of military operations and culture, they are less equipped to provide effective oversight. This can lead to both micromanagement in some areas and a lack of accountability in others. For example, Congressional hearings on military matters sometimes focus on tactical details rather than broader strategic issues.
Bridging this divide requires deliberate effort. Increased interaction between civilian leaders and military personnel, educational programs, and a greater emphasis on national security issues in civilian discourse are crucial steps. Without a better understanding of the military's challenges, civilian leadership risks making flawed decisions that undermine national security.
Civilians fail to understand the challenges faced by the U.S. military. This results in ineffective oversight, flawed strategy, and inadequate support and resources to achieve national security objectives. This disconnect stems from a growing civilian-military divide, characterized by declining military representation in Congress, a shrinking veteran population, and an increasingly specialized and technologically complex military. These factors contribute to a knowledge gap that hinders effective civilian leadership and support.
For example, the complexity of modern warfare, involving cyber operations, drone strikes, and special forces deployments, is often poorly understood by civilian policymakers. This lack of understanding can lead to flawed strategic decisions, such as overly restrictive rules of engagement or unrealistic expectations for military outcomes. The 20-year conflict in Afghanistan exemplifies this, where shifting political goals and a lack of clear strategic vision from civilian leadership arguably contributed to the ultimate failure.