Statement of Robert F. Hale, Assistant Director, National Security Division, Congressional Budget Office

Abstract

The deployment of troops to Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf renewed interest in the question of whether the All-Volunteer Force (AVF) fully represents American society. With the outbreak of hostilities, the question has taken a new form: Who among America's youth are fighting in the Persian Gulf War? Public and media discussions of the issue, which appear to be fueled more by anecdotes and impressions than by facts, indicate that perceptions of the composition of the volunteer military have not caught up with reality. I welcome the opportunity today, Mr. Chairman, to present a few facts. Conclusions about the representativeness of the All-Volunteer Force vary depending on whether one is considering socioeconomic or racial characteristics. This testimony focuses on the following topics: Socioeconomic Backgrounds of Enlisted Recruits; Racial Mix of Enlisted Recruits; Career Personnel; Including Officers in the Comparison; Shifts in Recruiting during the 1980s; Altering the Composition of the Military -- Reserve Mobilization and Reinstituting Conscription; and Should the Social Composition of the Military be a Concern?

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 04, 1991
Accession Number
ADA529823

Entities

People

  • Robert F. Hale

Organizations

  • Congressional Budget Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Army Personnel
  • Department Of Defense
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • House Of Representatives
  • Military Personnel
  • Minority Groups
  • National Security
  • Persian Gulf
  • Persian Gulf War
  • Personnel Management
  • Recruiting
  • Recruits
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Security

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Naval Personnel Management