The military establishment is not popular in America nor is the life of the soldier. Yet few Americans deny the need for national security and for trained military manpower. When conscription was ended in 1973, hopes ran high for a new all-volunteer military force that could perform efficiently and effectively. Now, five years later, that hope has given way to serious misgivings. This important collection of six essays carefully assesses the current status and the future of the all-volunteer force and relation to contemporary military issues.

Robert Leider's "Muddling Through Won't Do" is a revealing study of the fundamental, myriad, and complex changes that have occurred in the military since the end of conscription. He suggests that the military has compromised much of its traditional ethos in its desire to become acceptable. He also presents provocative insights into the changing nature of military organizations and suggests that these changes demand new ways of allocating manpower. Charles C. Moskos, Jr., describes the current Army enlisted force. He demonstrates convincingly that today's Army fails by a wide margin to approach the national youth profile in racial mix, education, marital status, and economic background, and he discusses the problems of these young soldiers.

William P. Snyder's essay evaluates the unlikeliness that today's personnel-procurement policies will meet future force requirements in an era of shrinking manpower resources. Gwyn Harries-Jenkins's essay on Great Britain's experience in maintaining volunteer forces should dull expectations of finding simple financial and managerial solutions to military manpower problems. The essay by Cecile S. Landrum cuts through much of the rubbish which clutters consideration of the use of women in the military. She raises important issues which indicate that the interests of all will be best served by a methodical and gradual integration of women into the armed forces. John B. Keeley discusses the question of whether the United States reserve forces as they are now organized are suited to the strategic needs of the nation. He suggests alternative concepts for training, organizing, and utilizing reserve forces.

This is an important and timely book that will stimulate greater awareness of the problems a volunteer force presents to the nation.