Posted on May 24, 2015
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
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While the U.S. waged a war in Vietnam 50 years ago with 2.7 million men conscripted from every segment of society, less than one-half of 1% of the U.S. population is in the armed services today - the lowest rate since World War II. America's recent wars are authorized by a U.S. Congress whose members have the lowest rate of military service in history, led by three successive commanders in chief who never served on active duty.

Surveys suggest that as many as 80% of those who serve come from a family in which a parent or sibling is also in the military. They often live in relative isolation - behind the gates of military installations such as Ft. Bragg or in the deeply military communities like Fayetteville, N.C., that surround them.

The segregation is so pronounced that it can be traced on a map: Some 49% of the 1.3 million active-duty service members in the U.S. are concentrated in just five states - California, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina and Georgia.

The U.S. military today is gradually becoming a separate warrior class, many analysts say, that is becoming increasingly distinct from the public it is charged with protecting.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-military-and-civilians-are-increasingly-divided/ar-BBkaN9f
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Responses: 5
Capt Retired
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Edited >1 y ago
Seems to be. But, still better than in the 70s and vietnam.

The divide will always be because too many have no concept of the military.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
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I agree Capt (Join to see) --- I think that the divide between the two was greater prior to 9/11.
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SCPO Investigator
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If the division today that exists between the military and civilians can be viewed as the distance from the New York City to Los Angeles, then the divisiveness we felt coming home from Nam would be viewed as the distance of the Earth to Mars!!! Things are infinitely better today for our military personnel and I applaud the efforts made by Americans to not repeat the nastiness of the Viet Nam era.
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Sgt Martin V.
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Great article, thanks for sharing.
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