An article from the Chicago Tribune (via the Seattle Times) considers the effect of military service on members of Congress:
Less than one-quarter of the members of Congress have a military background, the lowest ratio since World War II, according to figures compiled by the Congressional Research Service. That fact rankles some critics who argue that most lawmakers who vote to pay for wars and send troops lack combat experience themselves.
Tim Walz (who didn't serve in combat but in a support role in Europe for Operation Enduring Freedom) is mentioned in a sidebar:
Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn.: Former Army National Guard command sergeant major, he served 24 years and is highest-ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in Congress; upset six-term GOP incumbent.
The article explains the changes that led to the shift:
In modern days, Congress hit a high for military veterans in the mid-1970s, when nearly 80 percent of federal lawmakers had a military background. From 1951 to 1992, more than half of all members of Congress had military experience, congressional records show.
With the end of the draft and the downsizing of the nation's military heading into the 21st century, the pool of congressional candidates with military experience shrunk. Today's military force represents a fraction — less than 1 percent — of the nation's population.
This shift is represented in the applicant pool for the GOP endorsement to run in MN-01. Of the four declared Republican candidates hoping to challenge Walz, only Dick Day has military experience, having served in the Navy.
Why is veteran's status an issue? An Iraq vet explains:
The shrinking pool of congressional members with military backgrounds has proved to be a strain on organizations representing veterans and military personnel.
"You feel like you're in 'Military 101' when they don't even know the difference between the most basic things, like the difference between a brigade and a division," said Jon Soltz, an Iraq war veteran and chairman of VoteVets.org, a group formed to support the election of vets who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. "It makes it real difficult because they're more susceptible to political spin."
The article also looks at prospects for vets running for office in 2006 and 2008. It's no guarantee of electoral success or leadership skills. Walz himself told the City Pages as much last summer.
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