How much of your life has the United States been at war?

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 15:33:04 -0400

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/05/18/heres-how-much-of-your-life-the-united-states-has-been-at-war/

We spend a lot of time at war, it seems. Should we be concerned about this, or just see it as job security?

Here’s how much of your life the United States has been at war

For today's 30-year olds, it's been more than half.

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Jun 6 at 2015 3:34 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 15:34:19 -0400

Looks like less than half: 42.2%

That's still quite a bit, and it doesn't account for the Cold War that we lived under until the early 90s.

I also don't see the limited "conflicts" that were were periodically involved in.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2015 3:38 PM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 15:38:19 -0400

75%

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Jun 6 at 2015 3:44 PM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 15:44:41 -0400

I was born in 1990, so the chart shows that we have been at war for 61.5% of my life. They left out smaller conflicts in their calculations.

Politically, I view our foreign policy habits negatively.
As a soldier, I see job security.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 6 at 2015 3:51 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 15:51:09 -0400

Including the Cold War about 80%of my life.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 6 at 2015 3:51 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 15:51:47 -0400

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA, since I was born in 1956, the US fought a hot war in Vietnam from 1964 to 1975, the Cold War was waged in Europe and to a lesser extent the USA from before my birth until the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. We have been at war since 2001 in OEF, OIF.
There were smaller engagements in Somalia, Grenada [1983], Panama [1989], Desert Storm [19911] which combined to less than one year, and varying degrees of military advisers through direct action in the former Yugoslavia [1995 to 1999] [Kudos to MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca for reminding me about Desert Storm]
So there have probably been 7 out of my 58 1/2 years where this nation has not been engaged in warfare somewhere. Therefore approximately 88% of my life the USA has been engaged in warfare of one type or another.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 6 at 2015 4:01 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 16:01:51 -0400

100%.

America has never not been at war. We've been in some form of conflict, whether hot or cold for the entirely of our existence.

From the Whiskey Rebellion to the Indian Wars to the Mexican American War to the Civil War to Spanish American War to WWI to WWII to Korea (Cold War beginnings) through Vietnam, through the end of the Cold War (late 80's/early 90's) to Gulf 1, to OIF/OEF, when haven't we been at "war?"

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 6 at 2015 4:32 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 16:32:54 -0400

Very thought provoking question!

Let's see

1967-1975 Vietnam
1983 Grenada, Beirut
1989 Panama
1991 Desert Storm
2001 to present GWOT

So that's 25-ish out of 48, give or take a battle or 2.

Add in the domestic wars on drugs, poverty and crime and that would make it 100%

Response by TSgt David L. made Jun 6 at 2015 4:33 PM

TSgt David L. — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 16:33:58 -0400

Counting the Cold War, which I do, we have been at war for 46 years of my life. Counting 10 years of Vietnam

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 6 at 2015 9:25 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 21:25:28 -0400

43.1%

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jun 7 at 2015 10:40 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 10:40:26 -0400

I took this from MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca with one edit.

1969-1975 Vietnam
1983 Grenada, Beirut
1989 Panama
1991 Desert Storm
2001 to present GWOT

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Oct 8 at 2015 12:40 PM

Maj Mike Sciales — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 12:40:17 -0400

Too much. I enlisted in Dec 1971, Vietnam was still hot, got orders for Tan Son Hnut AB in Saigon, but the Vietnamese heard I was coming so they sued for peace. That war ended in 1975. I was on active in the UK when Desert Storm was ramping up and undertaken. I caught the tail end of it (deployed) from Panama. I was in Kuwait from 2000-2003 so I caught all of Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. We need to take time to rest and recover our forces.

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made Apr 11 at 2016 5:15 PM

SFC Marcus Belt — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 17:15:46 -0400

I was born in '71 so:

Cold War '71-'89
Vietnam '71-'75
Grenada & Beirut '83
Panama '89
Desert Storm '90 (served in USN during that one)
Somalia '93
The Balkans '94-'04, but especially hot until 1996
OIF/OEF/OIR '01- (joined the Army in '02)

So counting the Cold War, 37 of my 44 years, and have served during or in three major regional conflicts...well, okay, four if you count OP Inherent Resolve as distinct from OIF/OEF.

You know, lately I've been thinking that my post-retirement career will have nothing to do with warfare or defense.

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made Apr 17 at 2016 7:14 AM

SFC Marcus Belt — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 07:14:10 -0400

To address the second part of your question, I do believe that we should be concerned. Warfare is expensive in every imaginable way, and the US has significant shortfalls in critical areas such as infrastructure, education and health care.

Even more than the economic and financial capital, I think we need to direct some of our collective talent and intellectual capital towards solving the domestic issues that we face and creating a more equitable, less vitriolic society.

I am not optimistic that these changes will occur.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Apr 17 at 2016 8:24 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 08:24:03 -0400

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA , Read LTC Stephen F.'s post. We're the same age, so his stats apply for me, except he can't count - I'm at 60yrs, and he is 59 1/2!! (Got to keep these officers on track)