news

Congress at War

The Capitol Hill ranks on why they enlisted and what it means now

By Staff

 

Elected office and military service have always been closely linked in American politics. But increasingly, when issues like sending troops to Syria or making deals with Iran come to the floor in Congress, they’re decided by a majority of members who have never served themselves. In the late 1970s, as the World War II generation reached the peak of its political power, nearly four out of five members of Congress had served; today, it’s fewer than one out of five (which is still far more than the single-digit rate in the general population). Who are the 102 members of Congress who have served in the military, why did they enlist and how does their experience change the way they govern?

 

Politico Magazine asked the ranks on Capitol Hill to tell us. Read all member statement here.

 

Congressman Young’s answers:

 

***

Why did you originally decide to join the military?

 

“I never had the chance to decide; I was drafted to serve my nation. While I received a deferment to attend school, I ultimately served in the United States Army in the years following the Korean conflict.” —Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska)

 

 

***

How does your service in the military change the way you do your job in Congress?

 

“The military taught me the importance of getting something done in a timely manner and the importance of completing a mission on time. My lieutenant would say, ‘If you don’t, you die.’ In many ways, life is the same. If you don’t pay attention to a timeline, you lose out on the ability to accomplish the task at hand.” —Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska)

 

 

***

Compared to other periods in history, is there a greater disconnect today between civilian Americans and the military?

 

“I am extremely proud of our remarkable men and women who serve in our military, but the reality is that this is a shrinking percentage of the American population. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a growing disconnect between our military and civilian population. At one time, we had participation from nearly every American. Victory gardens, metal collections, saving stamps and bonds—everyone did their part to support our military. We simply don’t do that anymore.” —Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska)

 

***

What piece of advice would you give the next commander in chief about leading the U.S. military?

 

 

“I would encourage the next commander in chief to be more cooperative and communicative with Congress, particularly when entering a conflict.” —Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska)

 

***

 

The security threat the United States should be paying more attention to is…

 

“Russia’s increased Arctic presence. The Arctic has vast natural resources and security value, and Russia is drastically increasing its footprint in the region.” —Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska)