Young Americans have repeatedly been told that the U.S. military is oversized and expensive. Some even argue our deficit problems are due to the big defense budget and two expensive wars. In reality, defense spending is close to historically low levels. Regular defense programs combined with two wars amounts to less than 20% of the total federal budget. The current defense budget is inadequate to fulfill all the missions of our national defense. If we continue to cut back on defense spending, it will take longer and cost more to rebuild our military strength in the future. We must make sure that the U.S. military is given all the resources it needs to remain dominant, effective, and fulfill the tasks the U.S. government demands.

It is the Constitutional duty of the U.S. Government to “provide for the common defense”. First and foremost the military must protect its citizens and property from attack. However, what any Young Americans do not realize is that the military’s responsibilities do not end there. Since 1945, the U.S. military has taken on additional responsibilities in maintaining international security. Since the end of the Cold War, the mere presence of American warships or aircraft in a region can diffuse tense situations and discourage countries from using force against one another. Our military also maintains such overwhelming dominance to discourage potential rivals from trying to compete with the United States.

However, the U.S. military has had to fulfill these responsibilities with limited resources. During the Clinton Administration, the U.S. saw no reason for maintaining the large Cold War defense budget and decided to reduce the size of the military. The military was reduced by about one-third and there were massive cuts in arms production (called procurement). After September 11th, The Bush Administration increased spending in certain areas (Special Forces, unmanned aircraft, intelligence) but neglected many others (like the Air Force and Navy). The Obama Administration has maintained a similar defense policy in the first two years, but its plans are for a gradual decrease in defense spending over the next five years.

The last two decades of neglect have left the U.S. military with older, aging equipment that is in constant need of maintenance. In fact, most of our military equipment was designed in the 1970s and produced during the 1980s. The median age of a warplane in the U.S. Air Force is nearly 30 years old. The B-52 remains our frontline bomber despite being over a half century old. Many aircraft are serving well past their planned retirement date. The U.S. Navy has been getting older and weaker as well. We currently have a fleet of 285 warships, but the Navy has consistently stated that it needs more warships to fulfill its missions. The result is ships being stretched to their limit, seamen serving longer tours of duty and a gradual decline in the effectiveness of our Navy.

The list goes on. To sum it up, our military power is getting older and weaker.

Decreasing or delaying procurement for so long shrinks our defense industry, decreases competition among defense companies, and increases costs. The less we buy, the less we can take advantage of economies of scale (buying in bulk lowers the cost). It also makes it harder for us to rebuild our armed forces should we decide to do so in the future. Producing modern weapons takes years of research, development, and testing.

As our power declines, our rivals are seeing an opportunity. Both Russia and China are increasing defense spending. Russia is trying to develop weapon systems that can compete with ours. China has increased its defense spending more than four-fold over the past decade. Slowly but surely, the gap is shrinking.

In order to fulfill its current missions and remain a dominant power, experts have recommended that U.S. spend at least 4% of its GDP on defense. However, President Obama’s current budget request is 3.5% and it will drop to 3.2% by 2015.

Americans have serious misconceptions about the defense budget. Many believed it is the dominant expense of the federal budget and is too big. Neither is true. First, defense spending is less than 20% of the total federal budget. Second, we are currently spending a historically low amount of money on defense. In the next few years it will reach its lowest point since World War 2.

The steady weakening of the U.S. military must be stopped immediately. The U.S. Government must give the military the resources it needs to fulfill the missions we demand of it. This would require a relatively small increase in spending. An increase of $50-$80 billion per year could modernize the U.S. military and maintain its dominance well into the future. When the U.S. Government has an overall budget of $3.7 trillion, an additional $50-$80 billion is hardly significant (less than 3% increase).

In addition, defense spending is by far the most effective government stimulus program. The United States does not import weapons, equipment, or outsource military jobs. Defense stimulus does not “save jobs” it actually creates jobs by purchasing needed goods. Many Young Americans do not realize it was the expanded military spending of World War 2 that awoke the U.S. out of the Great Depression. The United States has a demand for weapon systems that can only be supplied by American companies that employ American workers.

In a time where we waste so much on wasteful government programs, ineffective jobs bills, and ridiculous earmark projects – this seems like a no-brainer. Why not cut out the billions in waste and shift it to worthwhile government programs that will create jobs and produce products the country actually needs.

Young Americans must realize that our military dominance will not last forever and we are getting dangerously close to seeing the end. The last three administrations have failed to stop the steady aging and weakening of the military. President Obama has indicated his plans to continue this trend well into 2015. We cannot afford this trend. It can take over a decade for new weapons to be developed, tested, produced and deployed. The longer we wait, the harder it will be in the future to resurrect our defense industry. In the meantime, rivals such as Russia and China are actively trying to close the gap and compete with U.S. military power. The cost of replenishing and modernizing our armed forces is insignificant in comparison to the potential dangers of a new world where the U.S. shares power with Communist China, an aggressive Russia, and a host of belligerent rogue states.

Author Bio: J. Wesley Fox is the Chairman of Restore America’s Legacy PAC. He is a recent graduate of DePaul University College of Law and has been active in local and national politics for several years. He currently lives in New Jersey after growing up in the Chicago suburbs. www.restoreamericaslegacy.com

Category: Politics
Keywords: U.S. military, national defense, procurement, defense spending, President Obama