Skin in the Game: Poor Kids and Patriots

by Major General Ret Dennis Laich, Dennis Laich

Major General Dennis Laich makes a compelling case that the all-volunteer force no longer works in a world defined by terrorism, high debts, and widening class differences. He sets up his argument by posing three fundamental Is the all-volunteer force working? Will it work in the future? What if we had a war and no one showed up on our side? The answers to these questions become all too clear once you learn that less than one percent of US citizens have served in the military over the last twelve years-even though we've been fighting wars the entire time. What's more, most of that one percent comes from poor and middle-class families, which poses numerous questions about social justice. This one percent-the ones that survive-will bear the scars of their service for the rest of their lives, while the wealthy and well-connected sit at home. Fortunately, there are alternatives that could provide the manpower to support national security, close the civil-military gap, and save taxpayers billions of dollars per year. It's possible to fight for what's right while ensuring a bright future, Laich offers a wake-up call that a debt-burdened nation in a dangerous world cannot afford to ignore.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published August 30, 2013

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent read - if a little dated (he published the book in 2013, before women were allowed to serve in every MOS, and when the war in Afghanistan was still projected to end in 2014). MG Laich provides some fascinating insight into how officers see the military as a whole, and enlisted personnel in particular. While I disagree with many of the elements of the conclusion to which he came (ie, there is a reason why active duty personnel talk smack about the reserves and National Guard, and increasing their numbers by 200,000 will not magically produce better-equipped and trained personnel without serious investment of time and funds. There is more keeping women out of the military than just rampant sexual assault and harassment. And going full Starship Troopers for citizen requirements is a little much, particularly for religious groups that do not support their members carrying weapons or engaging in violence), I also think more people should read this book. The author uses hard data to back up the Civil War era idea of a rich man's war, and a poor man's fight.

If you won't read it for any other reason, it is full of quotes:

"The system is perfectly designed to produce suboptimal thinking and protect the status quo" - MG Laich on the officer corps at the highest echelons

[Kathy Riggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read a book called "Skin in the Game: Poor Kids and Patriots" by Major General (Ret) Dennis Laich and would highly recommend it to all. In this book, Laich describes our current all-volunteer force and makes a compelling case that given terrorism and ill-defined battlefields, economics, and widening class differences that this model is no longer sustainable and to me, more so, increasingly damaging to those who serve..."our heroes". Staggering and sad. His book offers a sobering reminder of the sound-bite that most of us accept as our undying patriotism while few accept or consider the possibility of actually putting our "Skin in the Game".
From his book,"
...less than one percent of US citizens have served in the military over the last twelve years-even though we've been fighting wars the entire time.
What's more, most of that one percent comes from poor and middle-class families, which poses numerous questions about social justice. This one percent-the ones that survive-will bear the scars of their service for the rest of their lives, while the wealthy and well-connected sit at home."

Laich offers a well-considered solution that per his model provides a fair, sustainable and affordable method for providing a military force for the future. His book was largely apolitical and straightforward. His solution would certainly require a social movement to enact - a true cultural sea-change - but perhaps one that is overdue and ultimately very necessary. Coming from a generation once removed from World War II where my father and many uncles served and two uncles were killed (both my mother and father lost brothers in this war) and then being born in the generation of conscripted service in Viet Nam where two of my own brothers were called to duty, I felt like I owned my patriotism given these familial ties but was rather shocked and embarrassed how the current generation of our military that protects our freedoms (and these days, our sheer interests) is by societal standards, barely given notice.

Read this book!!

[Andrew Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book as a part of the research I've been delving into regarding Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for another writing project. While this book is peripheral to that discussion, it was thought provoking on a number of levels, particularly in showing how the research is well documented about the ineffectiveness and outright unfairness of an All Volunteer Force (AVF), yet both our leaders and citizenry choose to ignore these facts; instead hiding behind statements about a soldiers "choice" to serve and referencing heroism while turning a blind eye to the epidemic of mental illness, homelessness, drug/alcohol abuse, domestic violence, unemployment, and suicide - all of which can be directly traced to time in service, PTSD, and TBI. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering military service, or for that matter, anyone going to the ballot box.

[Mike Hebenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Logical look at a serious issue

Gen Laich uses real data and historical fact
to warm policy makers of a coming crisis that will effect the ability of our military to continue to defend our nation. Sadly politics will probably not heed his warning. Since those making decisions don’t have ‘skin in the game’ time will be the cause of change rather than the logic of a military commander.