Congress low on military experience

As the Senate and House continue to discuss and debate the president?s latest war strategy in Iraq, both houses are sorely lacking in any kind of military experience.

According to my research, only 130 of the 535 members of the current Congress have served on active duty or in the reserve components of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force or Coast Guard.?That?s the lowest number since World War II, when we had 196 veterans serving in Congress.

The ranks of veterans serving in Congress peaked in the 1970s. When I worked on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Liaison Officer for the Secretary of the Army in the mid-?70s, more than 300 House members and more than 70 Senators had some kind of military experience.

Working with members and staffers of both houses of Congress on military issues, I witnessed firsthand how the military experience of veteran members helped them deal knowledgeably and responsibly with the nuances of military force structure and the challenges of making the tough transition from a mixed force of draftees and volunteers to an all-volunteer force.’

Contrary to popular belief, having military experience does not necessarily make members of Congress easy on the military. For example, Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn and Mississippi Congressman Sonny Montgomery could be very hard on the military when they needed to be.?Both drew on their military experience to challenge the military to be combat-ready, and to use their taxpayer-funded resources wisely and well.?

Neither was averse to constructive criticism of the military when it was warranted. Both were staunch supporters of a robust military and quick to champion the military?s causes on Capitol Hill. Both had great credibility, in Congress, the White House, and around the nation.

The 1970s marked the zenith of military experience on Capitol Hill.?This year marks the nadir, so far.?In my view, the current lack of veterans in Congress carries the risk of two adverse results.?

First, there is a tendency to be too deferential to the White House on military matters.? This can lead to abdicating the legitimate war powers role of the Congress, enshrined in the Constitution.?It can also lead to such nonsense as non-binding resolutions, which send mixed messages to friend and foe alike.

Second, there is a tendency to be too insensitive to the burdens borne by military men and women and their families.?These burdens have grown more onerous with the extended combat tours and frequent deployments required to fight the war in Iraq.?Their cumulative effect on overall readiness, military morale and esprit de corps is yet to be measured, but likely to be dire in the long run.?This insensitivity can also extend to the abiding needs of our millions of veterans and their families.

None of this is intended to pillory non-veteran members of Congress, but to praise those who have served, encourage them to share their military experience and expertise with their colleagues where appropriate, and to urge more veterans to run for office in 2008 and beyond.

Thomas B. Vaughn is an instructor at Motlow College and co-host of the radio show ?Viewpoints,? which airs on WCPI 91.3 FM.?