Repercussions from the Vietnam Mobilization Decision
Abstract
The unfavorable reaction to mobilization by a few senior members of Congress following the call-up in connection with the Berlin mobilization alerted the Department of Defense to the apparent acceptance of the draft as the tool to increase our armed forces. These members of Congress questioned the wisdom of mobilization during the Korean War because it meant that those who had already served their country were serving again. This reaction strongly influenced the thinking within the Executive Branch and the DoD. The decision to increase our armed forces during the Vietnam buildup through the Selective Service System and officer recruitment programs caused significant long-term personnel repercussions, particularly for career personnel. The failure to mobilize the Reserves and National Guard (NG) meant that the career officer and NCO bore the burden of long-term assignment instability and repetitive unaccompanied tours overseas. The decision resulted in personnel repercussions of Army-wide individual and unit turbulence, increased family separations, and a deterioration of discipline during a time of increasing national dissension. A return to assignment stability is essential to overcome the dissatisfaction of career military personnel and their families. The United States is now withdrawing from Vietnam and reducing the size of its armed forces. Mobilization of the Reserves and NG is again stated as a strategy in the event of future buildup. To be effective, however, much improvement in readiness in the Reserves and NG is required to overcome the years of neglect as a result of personnel and equipment priorities going to the active forces. We need to develop and rehearse procedures that will provide for the timely activation and integration of Reserve and NG forces with the active duty forces. No further reductions in active forces should occur until the officers and men of the Reserves and NG have the capability and will to respond to immediate mobilization.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- ADA511092
Entities
People
- John D. Bruen
Organizations
- United States Army War College