We noted this morning that Harvard University has agreed to allow the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) back on campus after over 40 years. Our first reaction was “big deal!” Harvard has been guilty of institutional hypocrisy for decades; banning ROTC but accepting numerous senior officers as graduate students and adjunct faculty along with the federal money that comes with the package. Reflecting on this we have developed a more reasoned opinion. This is a good thing because at a minimum it will expose more of the country’s elite to the military and what service means to this country.

With the end of the draft in the early 1970’s and the increasing consolidation of military facilities in the south and western parts of the country, the nation has become disengaged from its military with the exception of the National Guard and, to a lesser extent, the Reserve. While the military has become more professional and more lethal than ever in our history, there is a danger in having the majority of this democracy ignorant of things military, an awareness of the profession of arms and ignorant of the sacrifices demanded of the military and their families. More and more in the media and in government are ignorant of all things military, and in the case of our elected representatives, ignorance of capabilities and limitations is dangerous.

Within the professional ranks, dislocation from the civilian society is not a good thing. There is a danger of evolving a professional military class representative of itself, more than the nation. As it is, the profession of arms has become the “family business” to many in service who may represent the third or fourth generation of professional warrior. This in and of itself is not a bad thing, but we need to temper the force with a continuous flow of new ideas and other perspectives. A vigorous ROTC system, along with a vibrant National Guard and Reserve force, serve the military and the democracy well.

The nation does not need, nor can it really afford, a return to conscription, the draft. Enabling legislation is in place if we ever need to conscript large numbers for a national emergency. What we do need is a pool of leadership talent that can refresh the military and increase awareness among the populace. To that end we believe that ROTC should be encouraged on all college campuses or regionally for smaller schools. We also think a return to mandatory ROTC for freshmen and sophomores at all land grant colleges (primarily the large state universities) as was the case from the mid 1860’s to 1967. The system can then cherry pick the best talent for advanced ROTC and commissioning. The best of those commissioned would be invited to join the active forces, the National Guard and the organized reserve. The balance would form the basis of a pool of individual ready reserve officers for call up in case of national emergency.

In addition, we believe the Junior ROTC should be mandatory in all public high schools receiving federal money, with a curriculum focusing on individual discipline, leadership skill and physical fitness. This for all girls and boys deemed physically qualified. The program should be instructed by retired military officers and non-commissioned officers and would contain no requirement for military service subsequent to graduation. Certainly the development of self-control, discipline and holistic fitness would improve graduation rates and the overall learning atmosphere of our public high schools. Also, it would serve as a civics lesson for all responsible citizens of what service to the nation and to the local community entail.