Understanding the Dynamics of the Civil - Military Gap

Abstract

Abstract : The civil-military gap that exists in America today has the potential to weaken the military element of our national power required to execute our National Security Strategy. Stated another way, the civil-military gap can weaken our national security. How the military sees its roles, responsibilities, and requirements for executing this strategy may be at odds with what the public believes the military's roles, responsibilities, and requirements to be. With the world relatively at peace entering the 21st Century, America will turn inward to deal with her domestic challenges. These issues and problems will be competing for limited tax dollars. With the world at relative peace, can America afford to spend less on defense in order to support or bolster other national issues? The extent and nature of the civil-military gap will certainly influence the debate and subsequent answer to this question. In this paper, I will explore the gap, determining areas where it exists. I will define the gap specifically between the military and the American people, and why it is important. I will finally make some recommendations on how senior military leaders can either narrow the gap or at least keep it from widening further.