A place of professionalism

Armed Forces Day is observed annually on the third Saturday in May. That was last Saturday, and many may not have even noticed it being celebrated. Held on a Saturday, the day rarely has the sort of attention that we accord to military members who have passed away (Memorial Day) or our military veterans who served in the past (Veterans Day).

Nevertheless, it is very fitting that we honor today’s serving military personnel and, especially, understand why the American military is so unique.

Much has been written about the distinctiveness of the U.S. military when it comes to its lethality and its technological sophistication. This is important, but already well-known. However, I would like to focus our attention on the military in relation to our society and the men and women in uniform as well as the civilians who support our defense system.

The U.S. military is comprised of about 1.3 million active-duty personnel, the majority of which serve in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. An additional 9,450 serve in the recently established Space Force. The sixth branch, the U.S. Coast Guard (with 40,600 personnel) can be federalized in times of conflict. The United States also has 762,000 men and women serving in the Reserves and National Guard; and the Department of Defense is supported by another 950,000 civilian employees. When one combines the numbers, we end up with around 3 million personnel in our defense and support services. In other words, less than 1% of the American public serves in some capacity in the Department of Defense.

These men and women, and the system in which they live and work, are distinctive in many ways. The first is that this is an all-volunteer force and has been for the past half century. Americans have long prided themselves on a limited and voluntary military, only establishing a mandatory draft during times of emergency and conflict, such as during World War II or during the crises of the Berlin Airlift and the Korean Conflict, and a decade later during the Vietnam War. But throughout most of our history, and for the past 50 years, the men and women who serve in uniform voluntarily choose to join and put themselves in harm’s way to protect the rest of us.

A second aspect that makes the U.S. military distinctive involves civilian control and oversight of the military. This oversight is established in the U.S. Constitution, where the president serves as commander in chief of the armed forces, and executive agencies have the executive function over the military. However, it is Congress that has the power, not just to declare war, but perhaps the even stronger power of the purse: Congress funds the military. Members of Congress often develop deep relationships with the military, in part, because many veterans and reservists choose to serve in state legislatures and in the U.S. Congress.

A third unique aspect of the U.S. military involves the high sense of accountability for ethical and legal behavior that is infused throughout the services. A big part of this reflects our civilizational founding in Christian just war principles—including obedience to legitimate authority and acting on a just cause with right intentions. We expect this both of our troops and of our leaders. The U.S. military is far more likely to try its own troops for violations under the U.S. Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) than most other national militaries, and far more willing to risk its own personnel to protect the lives of non-combatants.

Fourth, the military is known for professionalism and esprit de corps. Citizens in uniform exhibit tremendous pride in work, love of country, and sense of unit camaraderie. We see this in many ways, from music like the Song of the Seabees, to distinctive patches and T-shirts worn under a military uniform. We hear it in “jody calls” when marching. We observe it in public service, including after-hours volunteering in programs such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters. In other words, unlike many places throughout history, our military is a place of professionalism and esprit de corps, not a penal institution where so-called undesirables are sent to meet their deaths.

Our military service personnel make up less than 1% of our population. So, depending on where you live, it may be hard to find someone to thank, but they deserve our thanks just the same! Let’s thank God for people who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way to serve as our guardians and protectors, and let’s seek out ways to honor their service and express our gratitude for all of them.