Abstract
With the advent of the all-volunteer force (AVF) in 1973, the US military services could no longer rely on draftees to fill the ranks of the services. The services would now be required to recruit volunteers to serve in each of the military branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines) – both their active (e.g., Regular Army) and reserve components (e.g., Army Reserve and Army National Guard). This meant the military now had to compete in the marketplace, with colleges and employers, for qualified young adults to fill their ranks. Yet, despite 34 years of experience with the AVF, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) – the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – mark the first time since 1973 that we have had to rely entirely on volunteers to fill the ranks during a prolonged war. This has proven a particular challenge for the Army, the largest service and the one shouldering most of the burden of combat in OIF and OEF.
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