Those who defend us.

• Author: Farrell, Lawrence P., Jr.
• Position: President's Perspective

Just after the conclusion of World War I, the seeds of what became NDIA were planted to address the abysmal military preparedness with which U.S. forces entered that conflict. To this day, our purpose remains to advocate for a strong industrial base and to ensure that the highest quality systems are placed in the hands of our fighting men and women.

As the beat of the war drums grows louder, perhaps it is appropriate to contemplate the second part of that mission, reflecting for a moment on the needs of "those who defend us" and their special contribution to our security.

In this regard, it is important to remember that the defense of the country is the responsibility of every citizen. In our democracy, we have developed a unique approach to that responsibility--the all-volunteer force.

Consequently, all of us--and especially those of us in the business of national defense--have a responsibility to feel connected to those men and women who put their lives on the line to protect us. The importance of that connection becomes obvious when one has a family member in the service. Those who don't, nonetheless, need to remember that our volunteer force is made up of special people, in whom we all have a stake.

Much of what the average citizen learns about ongoing or emerging military operations comes from inside-the-Beltway pundits and TV talking heads. Some of it is good, but much is off target, and the short 30-second to one-minute bursts turn the debate about war into an oversimplified intellectual exercise, which often badly misinforms. Most often the misinformation is focused on topics such as the effectiveness of air power or the size of the ground force that would be needed to invade Baghdad. Sometimes the discussions mischaracrerize or overlook the service of the troops.

Nearly three years ago, when the United States was conducting a war against Serbia, the talk shows often would debate the merits of sending ground forces into Kosovo. In one particular instance, one journalist commented that dispatching ground forces likely would result in "lots of casualties." The rebuttal from another journalist went something like, "...but we must remember, they are volunteers." The journalist seemed to be saying that the blood of a "volunteer" is somewhat less precious, because he or she had chosen to serve.

Needless to say, that outrageous comment made my blood boil. And I was at a loss to understand its intended meaning.

The all-volunteer construct...