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While agreeing with Professor Liebert and Colonel Golby that the All-Volunteer Force—which in 1973 replaced the Selective Service System (the draft) enacted by Congress at the onset of World War II—has worsened the estrangement of America's military from the larger society and that this estrangement constitutes a hazard to our nation's democracy, Colonel Hauser disputes their notion that nothing much can be done to remediate that hazard other than encouraging a return to historical/traditional nonpartisanship on the part of active and retired military officers, presumably encouraged by civilian political leadership. Instead, he suggests, a return to the draft, within a program of national service, would not only ameliorate military-societal separation but also provide a multitude of strategic, social, political, and economic benefits to the entire nation.

The military career has most often been compared with "traditional" professions, such as law, medicine, and the clergy; but it is perhaps more appropriate to compare it with corporate executive development. There are many differences, but both systems are essentially "careerist" rather than "professional." In business, such careerism may well be utilitarian, but in the armed services it is harmful to military capability and thus to national defense. Members of a new "Military Reform Movement" are disturbed by the focus on careerism, but their demands for military self-reform are misdirected. The services are incapable of self-reform; externally generated reform is the only cure.

The military career has most often been compared with "traditional" professions, eg, law, medicine, & the clergy, but it is perhaps more appropriate to compare it with corporate executive development. There are many differences, but both systems are essentially "careerist" rather than "professional." In business, such careerism may well be utilitarian, but in the armed services, it is harmful to military capability & thus to national defense. Members of a new "Military Reform Movement" are disturbed by the focus on careerism, but their demands for military self-reform are misdirected. The services are incapable of self-reform; externally generated reform is the only cure. HA.