Last weekend our National Defense Fellows concluded their fellowship by attending the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California. The forum was attended by members from all aspects of the national security industry; from think tanks and Congress to the military and defense contractors. Panels discussed topics such as combating America’s dwindling military recruitment numbers, strengthening cooperation and trust within U.S. alliances, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The overall goal of the forum was to bring attention to the current threats facing U.S. national security and inspire solutions.
While the world has changed since last year’s forum, many of the problems remain the same. The U.S. still struggles to attract new recruits to the armed services while also failing to retain those already in the military, threatening the all-volunteer force. America continues to lack the robust industrial base required to support its national defense necessities. Belligerent actors like Russia, North Korea, and Iran continue to disrupt the international order while pursuing their national goals at the expense of human life. Finally, China actively seeks to replace the U.S. standing as the global hegemonic power. The U.S. will continue to be confronted with a difficult future, but this is not a reason to be pessimistic about the nation’s current standing. When former Secretary of State Leon Panetta addressed the AHS cohort in a private conversation, he said, “the world is the scariest place I have seen in my career, which is why we need young minds dedicated to addressing the problems of our nation’s security.” Secretary Panetta is correct that soon the current difficulties faced by America will be the responsibility of the next generation, and they must be prepared for the daunting task of solving them.
Questions and Background
- Why does the U.S. military continue to struggle to reach its recruitment quotas? How should the U.S. address the current declining enlistment numbers?
- Is the U.S. military ready for a confrontation with China?
- How can the U.S. encourage technological innovation in the defense industry?
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Marcus Weisgerber. Defense One. December 5, 2022.