Has the public "mentally outsourced" military defense?

2015-06-15T15:28:09-04:00

The military has always been a subculture, but a larger one than today, leading to a potential polarization between military veterans and the nation they protect:
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-warrior-pendleton-20150613-story.html#page=1

On base, the comforts of home, minus civilians

The days when "If the Marine Corps wanted you to have a family, it would have issued you one" are clearly over.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 15 at 2015 3:45 PM

2015-06-15T15:45:20-04:00

With the ability to see glimpses of what they want to see (you can check out multiple videos from our (1-36 Infantry) deployment to Al Anbar during the surge on YouTube)...they (the public) don't have to be personally invested and therefore do not feel the direct loss of a friend....there are some that are personally invested (with relationships/supporting our troops) but that is by-far NOT the majority. Our Troops deserve every dang perk they get by living on base, hell, they deserve more, look at the last few pay raises as compared to the cost of living increases. Our troops volunteered to serve and they continue to serve and volunteer every day, they deserve the perks of living in a very safe area on our bases, camps and posts.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jun 15 at 2015 8:05 PM

2015-06-15T20:05:15-04:00

If it hadn't, enlistment rates would be much higher... Of course the use of standoff warfare has made this even easier. So, sure, why not let the contractors fly the drones...

But seriously, if we don't have the heart to go all out in a conflict, why are we there in the first place. We lost too much over the last 15 years to just walk away and deal with ISIS by an air war. We created the mess - we have a moral obligation to go in and fix it...