Defense Preparedness

Is the United States really prepared militarily to meet its many commitments abroad? Half of each of the past two numbers of The Public Interest has been devoted to exploring “America’s Defense Dilemmas.” The situation is not encouraging.

In a splendid article in the Spring issue, Georgetown professor Philip Gold —himself a Marine Corps Reserve officer—discusses the expectations being placed on reserve forces in current U.S. military planning. Gold begins with the observation that there are essentially two types of military forces. Territorial-defense forces deter or defeat aggression at or around a nation’s borders. But, writes Gold, “By the grace of God and geopolitics, the United States does not fight on its own soil.” American military forces are expeditionary forces. Historically, expeditionary forces rely on long-term, well-trained manpower—something the U.S. does not have enough of.

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Michael A. Scully

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Is the United States really prepared militarily to meet its many commitments abroad? Half of each of the past two numbers of The Public Interest has been devoted to exploring “America’s Defense Dilemmas.” The situation is not encouraging.

In a splendid article in the Spring issue, Georgetown professor Philip Gold —himself a Marine Corps Reserve officer—discusses the expectations being placed on reserve forces in current U.S. military planning. Gold begins with the observation that there are essentially two types of military forces. Territorial-defense forces deter or defeat aggression at or around a nation’s borders. But, writes Gold, “By the grace of God and geopolitics, the United States does not fight on its own soil.” American military forces are expeditionary forces. Historically, expeditionary forces rely on long-term, well-trained manpower—something the U.S. does not have enough of.