Posted on Jul 27, 2014
Should the Commander in Chief have military experience?
26.2K
150
111
This is just a question and not meant to disrespect anybody.
While I was in the Military (1980-88) I served under the Presidents unquestionably.
As a Veteran I often sit and think.
Being Commander in Chief and asking our soldiers to put their life on the line. Shouldn't you have served before asking our Military to do something you never have?
With all due respect. I just believe we should have a Military Requirement before you can be Commander in Chief.
What do you think?
While I was in the Military (1980-88) I served under the Presidents unquestionably.
As a Veteran I often sit and think.
Being Commander in Chief and asking our soldiers to put their life on the line. Shouldn't you have served before asking our Military to do something you never have?
With all due respect. I just believe we should have a Military Requirement before you can be Commander in Chief.
What do you think?
Posted in these groups: 
Command
Office of the President (POTUS)
Command Office of the President (POTUS)
Posted 10 y ago
This is a duplicate discussion. Click below to see more on this topic.
I feel it should be law that all political office members from president on down should have to have served in the military before they can be voted into office. If these people are going to have the power to decide who and when we go to war they should know what it is like to lead in the military. Far too many of our leaders have never served, and neither have their children yet they vote to send ours to war. <div>I recall at the height of the war in 2006 when politicians were considering a draft or mandatory conscription service. However they were silent when asked if their own children would be subject to the requirements of such a requirement.</div><div>A doctor must go to med school before they can legally practice medicine so the president should have to be a veteran before they can be commander in chief.</div>
Responses: 76
I'd have to say "No." The first President without military experience was Adams, the second was Jefferson. It seems to me that they did OK. FDR was pretty successful at leading us through WWII and he had no military experience. Also, is military experience enough, or should it be combat experience? Reagan was never closer to combat than Hollywood - how was that different from having no military service at all? Some pretty questionable Presidents have had military experience - Grant and Carter come to mind. Of course some without military experience have been disastrous, too - Harding comes to mind.
SSgt (Join to see)
I think your response, Senior Chief, can pretty much be summarized as the difference between being a quality leader and a piss poor one. The military doesn't create a leader, but it certainly helps. It really depends on the person tasked to lead.
no, but he should have REAL leadership experiences, political "leadership" doesn't cut it!
ABSOLUTELY without a doubt otherwise how can they be called commanders?? you have to know how to follow before you can lead not just jump right Into a position without knowing anything about it. whatever happened to having the nessessary skills to be effective these days??
Absolutely YES. If they gained nothing else from serving in the military they would at least have some first hand experience and hopefully understanding.
I think it should make him a better Commander in Chief, but at the same notion, that is why he has the advisors that he does. It enables him to make the decisions with all of the information that he does.
Much like a lot of people feel a prior enlisted officer is better, and I tend to agree, that is not always the case.
Much like a lot of people feel a prior enlisted officer is better, and I tend to agree, that is not always the case.
I actually prefer the President to not have prior experience because unless they were past general officers, there would be natural tendency to defer to the 4-star general/flag officers advising you. I like my Presidents to be independent minded and willing to push back against military advisors.
If Kennedy had taken Gen LeMays advice to invade Cuba, it's a real possibility that the US would have had a nuclear attack on the mainland.
If Kennedy had taken Gen LeMays advice to invade Cuba, it's a real possibility that the US would have had a nuclear attack on the mainland.
No.
First, POTUS must be empathetic. The capacity to empathize means the ability to to identify with and understand somebody else's feelings or difficulties.
Second, with an all volunteer army, fewer people will have served. Many of our POTUS who served were were part of large campaigns.
Third, a couple of the POTUS who had no military experience were Wilson and FDR - we seem to have done OK in WW II. Lincoln did have very minor military experience (one month) and he seems to have managed in the Civil War.
Fourth, anyone who doesn't understand how chaotic and cruel war can be is a MORON. You don’t have to be punched in the face to understand you don’t want to be punched in the face.
First, POTUS must be empathetic. The capacity to empathize means the ability to to identify with and understand somebody else's feelings or difficulties.
Second, with an all volunteer army, fewer people will have served. Many of our POTUS who served were were part of large campaigns.
Third, a couple of the POTUS who had no military experience were Wilson and FDR - we seem to have done OK in WW II. Lincoln did have very minor military experience (one month) and he seems to have managed in the Civil War.
Fourth, anyone who doesn't understand how chaotic and cruel war can be is a MORON. You don’t have to be punched in the face to understand you don’t want to be punched in the face.
It's not required, but it's definitely a plus. All other things equal, I would pick the candidate with military background.
SPC James Fie
How does this wash? That's why someone invented LEASHES. Of course, you're probably also one of the patriots who complained about a Marine holding an umbrella for Obama... as if no other President had ever had that done before.
And both of you are probably all upset because, unlike George W. Bush, Barack Obama has not only tried to END two wars that have gone on for about a decade too long, but he's doing everything he can to NOT start a brand new one, if it's at all possible.
How horribly unpatriotic of him.
And both of you are probably all upset because, unlike George W. Bush, Barack Obama has not only tried to END two wars that have gone on for about a decade too long, but he's doing everything he can to NOT start a brand new one, if it's at all possible.
How horribly unpatriotic of him.
Capt Jeff S.
Muslim world reacts to Obama's latest speech - IPhoneConservative
For those that understand "Poe's Law" no further disclaimer is required. For those that don't.........I suggest you look it up. Please visit Memritv.org wher...
No other President has done so much to compromise our national security, by his waffling when it comes to combatting terrorism, meddling in other countries, and failure to enforce the laws passed by Congress, as the one we have right now.
The following is a meme, but buried in good humor is a shred of truth that bites you:
The following is a meme, but buried in good humor is a shred of truth that bites you:
Yes, I believe they should because how else can they base decisions concerning the military when they don't have a clue what its like to do the kind of work we do. I think Congress should as well for that matter. You wouldn't hire someone who's never built a skyscraper that has only managed restaurants would you?
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google