In a recent Gallup Poll, the American Public expressed overwhelming confidence in the military. Is their confidence well founded?

COL Lee Flemming — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 03:35:22 -0400

Over 73% of the American public had great or quite a lot of confidence in the military! Is the support a politically-correct reaction to known issues of non-support in the past, or are we now given an automatic bye for the decisions that are out of our control? Suicides, sexual assaults, CDC abuses, failed fieldings, and prolonged wars have done very little to tarnish our reputation! Thoughts?

Response by TSgt David L. made Aug 10 at 2016 3:51 AM

TSgt David L. — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 03:51:15 -0400

I guess when you stack the Military against Congress and the White House cabinet it is an easy vote...!

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Aug 10 at 2016 3:54 AM

TSgt Melissa Post — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 03:54:03 -0400

Quite an interesting graph. So many conversations could be started off of this. i.e. If the church is so high then why has there not yet been a revival?, If the schooling system is only half way how can we make it better, after all they are teaching the leaders of our future? If small business is so high, why are there so many regulations trying to hinder them? Contrast that with how low big business are on the list.

It is good to see that the confidence in our military is so high. Especially looking to our past with so much negativity in the media (who might I add is near the bottom) surrounding the years after 9/11 and the lack of respect our brothers in arms had to endure after Vietnam and Korea.

Thank you for the share and boost of morale!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 10 at 2016 4:26 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 04:26:28 -0400

We have a lot of "Issues" but name me another Corporation that is as big as the US Military that doesn't. The Military has never been afraid to dive in knee deep to address Social Change from our Integration Programs to our Recent acceptance of the LGBT Community. Yeah when we Screw Up in most definitely makes Headlines but I think the American People are plenty aware of the Good we do.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 5:54 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 05:54:13 -0400

I thought nk big business also gets treated badly by the main stream media. I think most big businesses are quite reputable and you never hear about them. Unfortunately our media likes to focus on the negative instead of the positive. The company I work for donates millions to help the communities we have plants in every year but that never makes the news. It is the same with many other large corporations.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 7:11 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 07:11:03 -0400

Interesting that the bottom of the chart controls the purse strings for the institution at the top...makes you wonder how we are able to continue to operate...and why we are continually forced to "do more with less"!

Response by SGT David T. made Aug 10 at 2016 8:04 AM

SGT David T. — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 08:04:15 -0400

I don't think it's well founded and it is through no fault of military. Simply put, you cannot fight a war on hopes and dreams. You need stuff and stuff costs money. With the reduction in budgets, it puts readiness much lower than it should be. Now if our leaders in their infinite wisdom provide the funding at acceptable levels, then I think it would be well founded.

Response by Col Dona Marie Iversen made Aug 10 at 2016 11:10 AM

Col Dona Marie Iversen — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 11:10:41 -0400

Sir,

I believe the general population support the troops and have great confidence in the honorable folks that wear the uniform voluntarily, not the military as an institution.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 11:44 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 11:44:46 -0400

I believe so. The US Military today, while far from perfect, is a highly professional, all-volunteer force that is well-equipped, well-trained and quite experienced.

We have our issues, but those issues, like all of the many issues we've had in the past, are being worked through. We have aggressive education programs aimed at all service members to help prevent suicide. We've been rapidly educating the force regarding sexual harassment and assault, and have done much to shut down the "good old boy" network that used to protect offenders and silence victims.

I've served since 1984 and continue to serve today. In those 32 years I am proud to say that the military I serve in today as a field grade officer is a more professional and more capable force than the one I joined as a 17-year-old PV2.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 10 at 2016 12:34 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 12:34:16 -0400

Overall, COL Lee Flemming, I think the U.S. armed forces are in good shape, but for the ongoing diminutization process which I think is wrong with the current world political climate. I only wish I had as much confidence in our politicians as I do the armed services.