![\"Why](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/DDiMqFMv1Pc01OYBbPJCDKl3JBKSdZpZ009_ZNpvg3DmAQuu1LomyBWEkB38zeQ65KFD8juJJ2pUvN4u3LMaD-wLeRqmi9SE6qwzOiTR4zMYeSv1FGK5wl0UxwvtOA\")
<\/p>\nI was asked to talk about what drives a someone to join the military. Great idea Andrew, I really appreciate it. I am going to focus the question toward why so few join the military, however. The reason I am doing this is because to some degree the decision to join is very personal and I very much do not want to leave anyone out.<\/p>\n
Just to establish a few key understandings before I answer this question:<\/p>\n
1. I\u2019m going to focus on the bigger picture.<\/p>\n
2. I am going to utilize an economic model.<\/p>\n
3. I understand that this is a very complex issue, and is ultimately a personal decision that each person makes before signing on the dotted line.<\/p>\n
Here are some assumptions to make about this model.<\/p>\n
1. Everyone in the market is applying for one generic job in the military.<\/p>\n
2. Everyone has perfect information about the costs and benefits of military service, recruiters don\u2019t have any impact on the amount of people enlisted.<\/p>\n
3. It is understood that the government has the monopoly on jobs available. They are the only place where someone can enter into military service. (Which will be another blog.)
Remember that this is a simple model.<\/p>\n
There is a video at the end of this explaining the finer points of this figure. But I do want to offer a quick walk around of this model.<\/p>\n
The vertical axis is Wage, the horizontal is the quantity of labor. The curved line is the Supply line, it begins past 0 because there are individuals who regardless of the cost will serve in the military. For whatever reason, I\u2019ll simply call it patriotism, these individuals will enter the military for free. Now, there comes a point where the supply of individuals, fueled by patriotic fervor will be exhausted and we will need to begin compensating people for the labor they provide. That is the Demand line, the amount of individuals that the US government wants for various wages.<\/p>\n
As you can see, the cheaper the cost the more they want, sounds just like our government. Where that Demand line crosses the supply line is the wage that the government is going to pay, that is W1, the horizontal line running across. But for those patriotic individuals, they are receiving a greater wage than what they really wanted. Because they would work for free, they are receiving a higher pay.<\/p>\n
For some, it is patriotically motivated, an altruistic decision focused heavily on the greater social good. Others are motivated by family history, a role model who had served, who they are now following in their footsteps. Some are motivated by a personal experience. Then, there are those who want to better themselves and feel as though the military is a place where they can do that, by virtue of a career, or a step toward their goals, regardless of the risk. There are as many different reasons as there are veterans in and out of uniform. (How this may apply to recruiting is an issue I\u2019ll address in another blog.)<\/p>\n
Now, looking at if from this perspective it seems as though we veterans are less a labor force and more individuals soliciting our labor. We want to serve. We want to do our part, to protect our families and our nation. Very few of us would do that for free, but there is a population among us that would. If there is any question of that, remember what costs many have paid and continue to pay in order to provide that service. Because no government, corporation or man can compensate those men and women for what they have paid.<\/p>\n
So, why do we serve? Why do we few choose to serve? I believe that it is the deeply held belief that we can make a difference, that our sacrifice is worth it. And our nation will be a better place for it.<\/p>\n