ARTICLE

January 2003

Those Who Defend Us…

by Lawrence P. Farrell, Jr.

Just after the conclusion of World War I, the seeds of what became NDIA were planted to address the abysmal military preparedness with which U.S. forces entered that conflict. To this day, our purpose remains to advocate for a strong industrial base and to ensure that the highest quality systems are placed in the hands of our fighting men and women.

As the beat of the war drums grows louder, perhaps it is appropriate to contemplate the second part of that mission, reflecting for a moment on the needs of “those who defend us” and their special contribution to our security.

In this regard, it is important to remember that the defense of the country is the responsibility of every citizen. In our democracy, we have developed a unique approach to that responsibility—the all-volunteer force.

Consequently, all of us—and especially those of us in the business of national defense—have a responsibility to feel connected to those men and women who put their lives on the line to protect us. The importance of that connection becomes obvious when one has a family member in the service. Those who don’t, nonetheless, need to remember that our volunteer force is made up of special people, in whom we all have a stake.

Much of what the average citizen learns about ongoing or emerging military operations comes from inside-the-Beltway pundits and TV talking heads. Some of it is good, but much is off target, and the short 30-second to one-minute bursts turn the debate about war into an oversimplified intellectual exercise, which often badly misinforms. Most often the misinformation is focused on topics such as the effectiveness of air power or the size of the ground force that would be needed to invade Baghdad. Sometimes the discussions mischaracterize or overlook the service of the troops.

Nearly three years ago, when the United States was conducting a war against Serbia, the talk shows often would debate the merits of sending ground forces into Kosovo. In one particular instance, one journalist commented that dispatching ground forces likely would result in “lots of casualties.” The rebuttal from another journalist went something like, “...but we must remember, they are volunteers.” The journalist seemed to be saying that the blood of a “volunteer” is somewhat less precious, because he or she had chosen to serve.

Needless to say, that outrageous comment made my blood boil. And I was at a loss to understand its intended meaning.

The all-volunteer construct has had many positive features and outcomes, such as a more professional, effective and stable military force. Unfortunately, some people have come to believe that only “those other folks” have the responsibility to defend us. A gap has developed between ordinary citizens and our professional military, because the average citizen is not required to participate in defense, unless one volunteers to do so. We need to close that gulf by continually reminding everyone that every citizen has ownership in this enterprise.

The lives of each and every soldier, sailor, airman and marine should be viewed as precious by our entire citizenry—regardless of whether one has served in the military or not. We should feel a bond with them, even though we don’t know them personally, because they have chosen to defend us all. They are not just “those guys, who choose to fight.” They are real people.

Last month, the Washington Post published a poignant piece written by the father of a young Marine, who never had felt any connection to the military or even had been aware of what the services do, until his son joined up.

“Before my son became a Marine, I never thought much about who was defending me. Now when I read of the war on terrorism or the coming conflict in Iraq, it cuts to my heart,” wrote Frank Schaeffer. “My son has connected me to my country in a way that I was too selfish and insular to experience before. ... If the immorality of the Vietnam War was the only reason those lucky enough to go to college dodged the draft, why did we not encourage our children to volunteer for military service once that war was done?”

Schaeffer’s experience gets at the essence of what I’m talking about. As he contemplates his son’s future as a Marine, he ponders, “Is the world a safe place? Or have we just gotten used to having somebody else defend us? ... I feel shame because it took my son’s joining the Marine Corps to make me take notice of who is defending me.”

During these trying times, when we find the United States confronting unfamiliar and ever-changing threats, we feel fear and uncertainty, but we also find reassurance in knowing that our military forces are the best equipped and trained in the world. If they do have to go into harm’s way, the expectation is that they will defeat the enemy and come home within a relatively short period of time.

For that reason, here at NDIA we feel we have a huge responsibility as “the voice of the industrial base” to make sure the United States can provide the best equipment and training for our forces. That means, among other things, having a strong industrial base—both in the government and the private sector. A healthy industrial base must be supported by both human resources and robust funding in the R&D and procurement accounts. The engineers, designers and scientists in our defense industry take a lot of pride in that what they do will help our troops win the war.

If we go to war, we want to know that, at least, our valiant troops will be superbly trained and their weapons will be top-notch.

Those who defend us are the best our country has to offer. They are giving us the best they’ve got. In return, we owe them the best possible weapons systems, our unwavering support, and perhaps most importantly, our understanding of the importance of their duty and the sacrifices they and their families make every day. As Frank Schaeffer said, “they are our heart.”

Please e-mail me your comments at lfarrell@ndia.org

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