Flagging vigilance: the post-Vietnam "Hollow Army"

Abstract

This thesis is an evaluation of the United States Army as it existed in the years following its evacuation from Southeast Asia and its transition from a predominantly conscript army to the all-volunteer concept in 1973. The post-Vietnam army's reputation has been pierced through with derision as time has passed and this study seeks to ascertain the merit of that derision. Not least among the dispersions cast against the army in question were those expressed by Army Chief of Staff Edward C. "Shy" Meyer in his 1980 White Paper. In his assessment, Meyer raised several questions regarding the post-Vietnam army's ability to meet its missions of deterrence and preparedness for war due to several maladies afflicting the force at the time. Ultimately, Meyer charged that the army was not, in fact, attaining its desired goals, coining the term "Hollow Army" in describing its status. Using Meyer's White Paper as a genesis, this study will examine several aspects of the post-Vietnam army in an effort to ascertain the validity of Meyer's assessment. The areas discussed include manpower and recruiting troubles, retention difficulties, the quality of life provided to the soldiers of the All-Volunteer Force, the caliber of soldiers serving during the period in question, and the nature of soldier behavior and conduct. In due course, this thesis will demonstrate that Meyer's negative assessment of the post-Vietnam army's status was quite accurate (if not comprehensive) and that America's guardian was, in fact, hollow.