ABSTRACT
A key feature of contemporary Western armed forces is the emergence of a “leaner, meaner, busier military” the regular components of which have become more dependent on part-time reserve soldiers. These forces are now less focused on national territorial defense and more geared to international missions abroad. Such missions give rise to varying levels of political controversy – an issue that has become heightened since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 – and are now concerned with achieving the political goals of government, which may or may not include national defense. Furthermore, conscription (with some exceptions) is generally on the wane in the West, while longstanding “all-volunteer forces” (AVFs), such as the British and the US, have been restructured in order to achieve greater flexibility. Also, given the political and cultural obstacles associated with a return to conscription, these forces have become focused on a more proactive approach to recruiting personnel. What used to be called the “all-volunteer force” is now a recruited force. This applies to AVFs such as those in the US and the UK as well as more recent examples in Europe, such as in France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain.
