Do you think the Commander in Chief should have prior military knowledge?

Question

When someone becomes President of the United States, do you think they should have some type of military training before coming into office to better lead in capacity of Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces? I know they have Sec. of Defense and the Generals to make recommendations, but as President, do you feel they would lead better in national defense with prior military experience?

Answer 1

I think the Commander-in-Chief should not pronounce "nuclear" as "nuke-you-ler. Otherwise, I'm not so sure prior military experience really means that much. In the case of President Eisenhower, it did, but look at the position he reached in the military. A country is as well off with a decisive leader, who surrounds himself with strong, capable advisors, and then seriously takes their input into his decision-making process.

:-o

Answer 2

President George Walker Bush is our 43rd President. Counting him we have had only 17 Presidents with military experience in the active armed forces or in the National Guard. Only one (George Washington) ever donned a uniform and led troops into putting down the Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania. Bush the Younger, along with Lincoln and Truman are the only ones with Guard experience. The two Presidents in office during the two World Wars of the 20th Century (Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt) had no military experience, although Roosevelt had served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under Wilson. Vietnam encompassed a chain of three Presidents (Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon) who had all been Navy officers in World War Two. The Korean Conflict saw former National Guard Captain Harry Truman as President. The UN Peace Enforcement Mission of 1991 to expel Iraqi troops from Kuwait saw President Bush the Elder (a junior Naval aviator in World War Two) as the nation's leader.
To me, the record is mixed and I don't see a reason for the President to have prior military experience.

Answer 3

I personally feel being prior military, that all presidents should have to have served in the ACTIVE duty military. No national guard no reserve. The only exception would be if they were deployed to a combat zone for longer than 90 days while serving in the national guard or reserve. I feel that some of the best presidents have been veterans of the military and I also feel it should be a requirement for secretary of defense. Why are we letting men who have never served make military decisions?

Answer 4

In this time and day yes. It shouldn't be a requirement, but it should be considered when voting. Simply speaking they know what war is and what the military is like, even if it is just in say the National Guard or Reserves. That knowledge learned when in the military will help them be better leaders.

Answer 5

Having prior military service under his/her belt would help in certain situations and would provide a greater backbone when it comes to guiding the country but, to me, prior service doesn't matter. Just having knowledge of the military, what the military is about and what service members and their immediate families (i.e. - spouse and children) have to go through, is a must!

This goes for any political position that involves working with the military, not just the President.

[*My father, my brother and my husband are not expendable*]

Answer 6

it is no longer. Wilson and FDR led us by way of 2 international Wars interior the 20 th Century. Neither served an afternoon in uniform. people who placed severe value on a candidate's militia veteran status are people who have not have been given any seen the form of the protection branch, the national Command Authority, the specified and Unified instructions, the investment and regulation of the defense force, etc. I served decrease than seven Presidents. 5 in a row have been former army officers. aside from the Naval Quarantine of Cuba during the 1962 missile disaster, there become little reveal of any appreciation of the utility of sea skill by way of any of those 5 adult men. nonetheless, I do intend to mark my pollfor electors pledged to the election of John S. McCain as President. we are the two retired army officers and that i understand the guy.

Answer 7

Nope. I don't believe the military should have any say in how a country works. If an ex-serviceman works his way up, that's all good for him, but it shouldn't be a requirement.

Mind you, civilians running the war made Vietnam a big waste, but I'd rather not see some big fat guy in a uniform dictating how the country works. The military and the government need to keep each other in check.

Answer 8

While in General I say yes,many of our 43 Presidents had zero military experience. Jefferson,Lincoln, Clinton are prime examples. Notice most of the Canidates today have 0% of service time.

Answer 9

And we should also require any senator or congressman who has anything to do with the military, to have prior military experience.

this would knock Hillary out of contention, but she's scream that she was being discriminated against.

Answer 10

That would be a very good qualification to require to lead the United States.