THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 5, 1996 TAG: 9601050020
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
Should the fact that the United States now has an all-volunteer force be a factor in deciding what conflicts are in the national interest? This reader would argue emphatically No!
Current members of the military volunteered to ``support and defend the Constitution,'' but should they be put in harm's way any quicker or with any less forethought and concern than draftees? Are their lives worth any less? Would their spouses, parents and children grieve any less if they were killed or injured?
We do not have an Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps composed of mercenaries. We have a military that depends upon a government and nation to critically analyze every potential use of its skills and training. Service personnel do not crave conflict. They do not long for battle.
An increased willingness to put these individuals in harm's way can only erode the foundation of the all-volunteer concept and result in unnecessary American casualties. Whether to send U.S. forces to Bosnia is the decision of the civilian government. Having an all-volunteer force should not make that decision any easier to reach.
M. J. OTTINGER
Virginia Beach, Dec. 22, 1995 by CNB