National Emergency – It’s time to implement the DRAFT! No, not that one, this one!
The Conscription System & Talent Management – Moving to
Whole of Government (coalition/ nation as applicable)
I’ve
written on this topic prior, but the current #Covid-19 pandemic requires
immediate implementation of a new service conscription model to support our
military, federal to tribal governments, and critical first responder
shortfalls and needs.
Sacrifice is Required by All - A rapid means to engage, employ and put into service
the masses to counter the multiple challenges we face is required
immediately. The need is there across
multiple functional areas – from federal to tribal levels of government, from
military to poll stations for elections.
This pandemic will likely cycle, and the worst possible approach would
be to wait and do nothing. During the
next two months of national quarantine at every level – it is time to plan for
execution of such an effort – as we come out of the first cycle.
Accelerating our Economic Recovery – Rather than just sending out checks and waiting for
the slow ramp up of our economy, we can accelerate our recovery by implementing
a national conscription now! As we come
out of quarantine, feeding recruits (all sexes) into varied military, federal,
state, local, medical, etc. jobs will advance understanding and a new level of community
and nation – across missions, functions, governance, etc. in a way that will
make our nation stronger.
Their
service will bring a new level of experience, innovation and expertise to
cultures long resistant to change. The
impacts can be significant in changing the whole federal employment system – in
the end decreasing the numbers of permanent staff, and increasing the flow of
new blood into the broken cultures –driving new ideas, innovation and energy
into our most critical government functions. If done properly, we could not
only reduce the size of government, reduce its operating costs, but instill new
cultures that embrace innovation and change to avoid the stagnation and approaches
resulting in our current “Titanium Cylinders of Sub-Excellence” we’ve seen grow
over the last three decades.
Promote
cross-service marketing, recruitment, and retention. The three streams of service— military, national, and
public—share fundamental characteristics, yet the agencies responsible for them
do not collaborate. Because current efforts to advertise service opportunities and encourage participation are siloed by
service agency, their impact is weakened[1].
The New Normal – Nothings Normal – the effects of this pandemic will forever change our
way of life, as we will have to change to survive. But the new normal offers a way to advance a
new level of shared sacrifice, awareness, learning, education, dedication,
partnerships and collaboration across all social, political, racial, etc. differences
– focusing our combined efforts on advancing the security, safety, and humanity
of our national being. The “Greatest
Generation” sacrificed so that we have the opportunity, freedoms, civil
liberties, social welfare and other programs we have today. It’s time to repeat that sacrifice with today’s
generations – whereby certain areas of service would be opened to multiple generations.
I’ve
strongly stated prior that I do not believe our democracy can survive long-term
if we try to rely on only the 1%. Society was already becoming more and more
detached from the few who serve. The article found via this link provides one
indicator of where we are headed. https://www.stripes.com/news/pentagon-military-civilian-disconnect-could-endanger-all-volunteer-force-1.507427
Increasing the Percentages of Service – Now is the time to implement, use multiple pilots, and
then scale. Coming out of this pandemic,
the needs of society will only increase across multiple fronts. The investment will occur either by hand out,
by return to other jobs, but can also be achieved by enabling new forms of service.
A 30%
initial mandatory conscription into service (e.g., not just armed forces but
FSLT government, etc.) with movement towards greater percentages of mandatory conscription, supplemented by expanding
opportunities to other generations, into US government service for 2-3 years is
not an unreasonable way to advance our nation's security. And given today’s crisis will be there
tomorrow and likely for the next year or two – it’s time to act.
But a
different form of conscription than our current processes is required. And the
approaches need to be piloted first, then slowly expanded. There is a very bad stigmatism
associated with the term “draft” or “conscription” given our experience during
the Vietnam conflict. So pick a
term.
The
recently completed “Final Report of the National Commission on Military,
National, and Public Service, March 2020” comes at the right time, has a number
of very good recommendations, but is not adequate to the fuller set of
challenges that we must address now.
National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2017, the Congress charged this Commission with two primary tasks:
(1) to “conduct a review of the military selective service process” and (2) to
“consider methods to increase participation in military, national, and public
service to address national security and other public service needs of the
Nation.[2]”
Our
current system is beginning to show it can’t keep up with the demand. And, the
current system is creating, by default, another “class” of Americans who serve,
but to whom the general citizen can barely relate. Platitudes of praise,
parades, discounts, and flashes of videos with parent reuniting sort of exemplify
the slow path to detachment that is now underway between those who serve (the
1%) and the rest of our public. A fairly recent gallop poll highlights an
aspect of this challenge.
By
reforming our conscription and talent management systems, we will strengthen the
bonds between our citizens, military, our government, etc. If done right, we
will create an ecosystem unparalleled in support of national security, freedom,
democracy and that once again realizes a true melting pot by enabling,
innovating and building trust, freedom and friendship across all races,
religions and cultures - in advance of our national security. A dream, I think
not. But again we must think big, start small, multiple pilots, educate,
communicate and scale.
National Election’s Exemplar - The upcoming national elections is just one
example. The need for poll workers – who
were prior mostly senior citizen volunteers, will likely require others to fill
in given risks by elderly are severe.
But our elections must go on.
The commission speaks to the need for a new means of conscription, while
applauding the notion of greater public service.
We commend…selfless
actions, as well as past and ongoing efforts by government at all levels and by
the nonprofit, faith-based, philanthropic, academic, and private sectors to
promote service and volunteerism. So much has been accomplished thanks to this
spirit of service; yet as a Nation, the United States has not unlocked the
full, transformational potential of service in all its forms. We believe that
the current moment requires a collective effort to build upon America’s spirit
of service to cultivate a widespread culture of service—a culture in
which individuals of all backgrounds both expect and aspire to serve their
Nation or community and have meaningful opportunities to serve throughout their
lifetime[3].
Service Beyond Military & Conflict - Future conscription should consider a model whereby
our citizens do not have to serve solely in the military, but expanding the
service to other key economic, policy, and national security areas. Growing
partnerships with the private sector and academia builds trust, understanding
and advances benefits for all participants. This is not an unreasonable goal.
However, it is likely not a politically obtainable goal for the near-term. So,
let's get started. Let’s do some pilots. And let’s educate ourselves, our
overseers and public on the overall benefits by providing positive proof. Hmmm.
A novel idea.
National Security & Intelligence Exemplar
- Across our Intelligence Community we do not, and cannot obtain, the level of
expertise required in all areas, all disciplines required to advance in the
cognitive domain and operation in the gray zone. To address critical shortfalls
in expertise, we must begin to build new ecosystems that create trusted
networks of expertise across social, economic, cultural, biological,
anthropological, financial, technical, etc. disciplines.
The Fabric of America – is our greatest strength - Our
national security fabric inextricably bounds private sector, academia,
government within one umbrella, but we continue to act as if these are wholly
disconnected piece parts and ignore the critical touch points within this
fabric. Unless we strengthen those touch points, the fabric will remain
relatively easy to rip. If we begin to take a more holistic approach, ala whole
of government, whole of nation approach, we can significantly strengthen the
fabric while concurrently providing value to all participants. Micro examples
of this occur today with the private sector, academia and government via paid
internships. Other countries are building new recruitment structures where they
tap into such expertise, but not necessarily placing them in military uniforms.
The crises we face is long-term.
It involves much more than fighting this pandemic. It involves competition in
the Cognitive Domain via an ongoing Cognitive War that threatens our way of
life, security, freedoms, etc.
Defining Our Future – Vice Reacting to It! - Given
the magnitude of the threat and risks – we must rise to the occasion. The ideas are out there, so are the
willing. While we may be reacting
near-term, we can move to a proactive stance.
Less we forget, either we define our future and live it, or we abdicate
this to our adversaries who envision a wholly different way of life for this
country.
It is time to reinstitute not
only a new conscription model, but a radically different means to draft among
this fabric we call Americans to ensure our long-term freedoms, opportunities,
civil liberties and security.
2020, ©
Edward L. Haugland LLC, All Rights Reserved
[1] Inspired to Serve: The Final Report of the National Commission
on Military, National, and Public Service, March 2020, p.3-4
[2] Inspired to Serve: The Final Report of the National Commission on
Military, National, and Public Service, March
2020, Letter From the Commissioners. https://www.inspire2serve.gov/content/news
Edward Haughland right on. We are in the great tribulation period and we clearly know what needs to be done in the Cognitive Domain.
ReplyDeleteThanx Nino, best!
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