Al Moqatel - وثائق أمريكية

THE ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE ( AVF )

The Gulf war tested for the first time whether the All Volunteer Force would be effective in war. By all accounts, the AVF passed with honors.

In his testimony on June 12, 1991, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Commander in Chief of U.S. forces in the war, testified:

This magnificent fighting force, both active and reserve, is an all volunteer force. A true cross section of Americans who volunteered to go in harm's way in order to serve their nation and the interests of the international community. Of special inspiration to me were our NCOs and young officers who led by their example throughout the grueling days and nights of Operation Desert Shield and by their courage throughout Operation Desert Storm. The All Volunteer Force has faced its trial by fire, Iraqi fire, and has emerged a resounding success.

Background

The performance of the AVF in the Gulf war may have surprised those who remembered the problems of the 1970s. In 1973 the United States had established an all volunteer force based on marketplace incentives -- good pay and benefits for all who volunteered. By the late 1970s, the effect of lower enlistment standards for recruits and higher discipline problems raised serious concerns about force quality and effectiveness.

In response to these concerns, the services made a series of major changes. Under congressional prodding, the military raised the education and testing standards for new recruits. Congress made the military more attractive by providing better pay and new educational benefits.

By 1990, this new approach proved to be an effective way to field a force of educated, experienced and disciplined people.

	*	The new approach provided 100 percent of service enlistment needs with educated enlistees. About 91 percent of all new enlistees were high school graduates, and 95 percent scored in the top three of the five mental categories in the DOD's qualification test. Active-duty noncommissioned officers ( NCOs ) with college credits and college students in the ranks of reserve component units were common.
	*	The experience level and maturity of the active-duty enlisted force rose significantly over the last decade. As a higher percentage of enlistees re-enlisted, average service experience lengthened from 67 months to 78 months, average age increased from 25 years to 26. 5 years, and the percent married went from about 40 percent to about 50 percent.
	*	The people in the AVF were remarkably self - disciplined. Indications of a lack of discipline such as absences without leave, desertions, court martials and sick rates were at their historic lows -- an extraordinary turn around from the terrible problems in the 1970s.

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