Report Summary:
America’s military has no formal role in the nation’s civil society, but it is an indelible part of America’s civic fabric. From the days of the Continental Army through the contemporary All-Volunteer Force, the military has played an essential role in shaping a distinct American character. Not only does it perform a type of garrison duty for the regime, making civic life possible; it also exemplifies the need for “a positive passion for the public good” in a rights-based democracy. True to the vision of the Founders, the U.S. military has also helped to transform the ancient notions of martial virtue applicable for the few into a more vigilant, robust civic virtue for the many.
The full report can be found here.
Rebecca Burgess is a Senior Fellow at Yorktown Institute.
