What is the purpose of the military?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 20:12:07 -0400

I believe the purpose is to project defensive and offensive strength to protect our nation and that it should be done within the moral framework of our responsibility as a member of the international community and as members of the Human Race. What do you think?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Apr 17 at 2015 8:13 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 20:13:59 -0400

I think you are right on target. I will also add in this day and age that are role is continually evolving. The days of rolling across continents hopefully ended with WWII. From Korea through Panama we seemed to diminishing the scale of our conflicts but then Desert Storm OEF & OIF hit and we took an upscale turn in both size and duration. I think we still serve as a deterrent to conventional forces but terrorist forces, "peacekeeping"/belligerencies will always be a challenge to us IMHO a) because our goal is never to stoop to either their level of terror (beheadings and the like) or to their demands and b) we're (conventional units) designed to work as a cohesive and interdependent "force" not as cells which is what the SPECOPS community is trained for.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 17 at 2015 8:37 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 20:37:46 -0400

To prosecute the Imperial Powers of the nation and when diplomacy has failed.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2015 9:42 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 21:42:43 -0400

Deter war through training readiness and presence

Response by LTC John Shaw made Apr 17 at 2015 10:18 PM

LTC John Shaw — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 22:18:43 -0400

I believe we must look to the constitution for the definition of war powers for the military and this document should be the general limits of our powers.

Since WWI & WWII we have moved beyond our originally intended Constitutional limits. This has led to significant engagements outside the United States the framers did not intend. I believe we need to determine some way of limiting ourselves or we will continue to be the world's police force until we run out of economic power to maintain the size of our force.

Based on my reading the military is for common defense and offensive actions when declared by Congress. I believe the intent is to deter war.

Notes:
Note ***I am using the original constitutional text, misspelling is because the common word spelling has changed***

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, "provide for the common defence", promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Section. 8. (Legislature)

***Removed non-defense powers***

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Apr 18 at 2015 8:23 AM

MAJ Ron Peery — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 08:23:55 -0400

Refer to your Oath of Office

Response by COL Ted Mc made Apr 18 at 2015 12:05 PM

COL Ted Mc — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 12:05:42 -0400

The ultimate purpose of any military in a "progressive", "lawful" and "peaceful" society is to ensure that it never has to be used as a military force.

The further away from "progressive", "lawful" and "peaceful" a society become the more the purpose of the military is to force people (other than the "natural governing class") to do what the "natural governing class" wants done.

In short, the answer to the question "What's the purpose of the military?" is dependent upon the nature of the society the military is a part of. [In fact, the answer depends on what is the REAL AND CURRENTLY OPERATING nature of the society that the military is a part of - REGARDLESS of any historical myths concerning that society.]

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2015 1:54 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 13:54:05 -0400

I think many of the definitions here have unnecessary language. For example, if you start with "To..." anything that follows with "through...." or "by..." is answering something different (how...).

My respone would simply be to defend the nation.

So what all does that encompass? Or should the question be "what should that encompass?" Or what does that encompass today? Is that different than 100 years ago? Will it be different in 20 years than it is today? Do we twist that to meet what is convenient at the given moment? Your mileage may vary. Not sure I have good answers to those questions. Regardless of what you perceive to be the answers to those questions, I maintain that our purpose is to simply defend the nation.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 3:16 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 15:16:52 -0400

To defend and protect the constitution and the American people from all enemies foreign and domestic

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2015 10:45 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 10:45:30 -0400

The Navy and the Air Force justifiably have gotten a lot of "purpose" mileage out of securing the global commons. This isn't anywhere in the oaths, per se, but is implied in the constitution, see below. By the verbiage, the Army has taken up some of the responsibilities of the militia through the Reserve Component. I think the true purpose is more simple... "war is the continuation of politics by other means." - Clausewitz

"To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;"

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

Transcript of the Constitution of the United States - Official Text

Note: The following text is a transcription of the Constitution as it was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) Items that are hyperlinked have since been amended or superseded. The authenticated text of the Constitution can be found on the website of the Government Printing Office.

Response by MG Stephen Hogan made Apr 22 at 2015 1:00 PM

MG Stephen Hogan — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 13:00:52 -0400

The final instrument of national power; when the other means have failed or are not suitable.

Response by COL Anthony Scotto made Apr 30 at 2015 1:25 PM

COL Anthony Scotto — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 13:25:44 -0400

Doctrine: To Fight and Win our Nation's wars

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2015 12:02 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 May 2015 12:02:56 -0400

Wow Paul, what a heady question for RallyPoint. Lots of good answers below too... I'll take a shot and see if I can keep it to a minimal number of words.

---To strengthen our country.---

There, I got it down to four words, but then you have to unpack it just like any of the references to the Constitution below by getting yourself "5 whys" deep in many directions. Here's my meditation.

Why 1: Why does a country require military strength. Answer-- see Thucydides or Clausewitz or any number of the founding documents and our nation's history.
Why 2: Why does strength necessarily entail military strength? Answer-- It does because warfare tests human faculties and capabilities-- all of them.
Why 3: Why do we have to test our human faculties and capabilities? Answer-- Strength requires the constant exercise, learning, and adjustment that only militaries can provide on a national scale.
Why 4: Why are militaries the only enterprises that can provide for the testing of our human faculties and capabilities? Answer-- because they involve, potentially, the life and death struggle necessary to sharpen our human potential.
Why 5: Why aren't other enterprises (like business or sport) equal tests and cauldrons for testing and refining our human metal to make our country strong? Answer: Because these enterprises do not require the selflessness that the military and defense of a strong country do.

I think about this a lot because the military is all I've done since 17 years of age. Have I spend my life unwisely? In pursuit of an inherently destructive enterprise for humanity? I don't think so for the reasons above. The military is absolutely necessary for the strength of our country-- and incidentally-- for the betterment of human kind through a government that is based on America's values.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Jan 31 at 2018 11:15 PM

MAJ Ron Peery — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 23:15:20 -0500

To be succinct: our job as members of the US military is to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same. We defend our nation and our way of life, responding as ordered by those elected or appointed over us. There is a moral consideration, but it has nothing to do with the international community or our standing as "members of the human race." The international community, and the rest of the human race, are always our rivals, and often our enemies. If there is a moral issue, you have the right, and I argue, the responsibility to resign your commission and make a stand in the public arena.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 1 at 2018 12:31 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 00:31:23 -0500

To break stuff and kill people in the service of enforcing our foreign policy.