Bridging the Civil-Military Divide
The Role of the Media
Event
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In July 1997, Thomas E. Ricks wrote an article for the Atlantic that detailed the widening gap between the U.S. military and the American public. After following a platoon of Marine recruits through basic training and their post-graduation leave, he found that many of them felt alienated from their families and their friends – indeed, the very society they had sworn to defend. Almost twenty years later, in January 2015, James Fallows penned a similar piece for the Atlantic, describing America as a “chickenhawk nation” – one “that is willing to do anything for its military except take it seriously.”
While this civil-military divide is not unique to the post-9/11 generation, nearly 14 years of war have certainly exacerbated it. But bridging the chasm between American service members, politicians, and citizens is not just a job for those in Washington.
New America, the Yale Alumni Journalism Association, and Yale Veterans are pleased to welcome Adrian Bonenberger, a journalist and U.S. Army veteran; Thomas E. Ricks, New America’s senior advisor on national security and the man behind Foreign Policy’s “Best Defense” blog; and Kayla Williams, an author and U.S. Army veteran for a discussion on this cultural divide and the role the media can play in bridging this gap now and during future conflicts.
Join the conversation online using #journalistsveterans and following @NatSecNAF and @yaleveterans
Participants:
Adrian Bonenberger @AHBonenberger
Freelance Journalist
Former U.S. Army Infantry Officer
Thomas E. Ricks @tomricks1
Senior Advisor on National Security, International Security Program, New America
Writer, “Best Defense,” Foreign Policy
Author, The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to Today
Kayla Williams @kwilliams101
Author, Love My Rifle More Than You: Young and Female in the U.S. Army
Former U.S. Army Sergeant
Moderator:
Catherine Cheney @catherinecheney
Editor, Special Projects, NationSwell
Member, Yale Alumni Journalism Association
In collaboration with
