Civil-Military Developing Leaders Program
October 25 - 26, 2002
Mississippi State University

AGENDA

The American Military and American Society
The All Volunteer Force - Implications on Civil-Military Relations

College students from across Mississippi and young military officers from throughout the nation gathered at Mississippi State University on October 25-26, 2002, to explore the future of civil-military relations in the United States.  The Civil-Military Developing Leaders Program, sponsored by the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service, is the first of its type in the nation. 

Rex Buffington, executive director of the Stennis Center, said, “The purpose of the program is to encourage discussion between college student leaders and junior military officer leaders on the status of mutual understanding between the military and American society.”  The conference l examined whether there is a growing or narrowing gap in civil-military relations, the impact of the All Volunteer Force, and the implications for military effectiveness and civil-military cooperation.  At the end of the program, participants compiled a report based on their findings and sent it to the joint Congressional Leadership and Secretary of Defense. 

The participants included 32 students, four each from Mississippi’s eight public colleges and universities, eight midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy, and 24 young military officers from the United States Navy and Marine Corps. 

The conference speakers were Dr. Charles Moskos, a professor of sociology at Northwestern University who specializes in military sociology and national youth service, and Dr. Bernard Rostker, a Senior Fellow at RAND who was Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in the Clinton Administration.

 In addition, a panel of high-ranking congressional staff will interact with the students.  The panel members are John Chapla, professional staff member, House Armed Services Committee; Steve Cortese, Republican staff director of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee; and David Lyles, staff director, the Senate Armed Services Committee.