I think it should be mandatory for a presidential canidate or president to serve in the military do you?

desertviking_00

Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces during both World Wars in the 20th Century. Neither of those two gentlemen had ever served in the military. As for the civilian leadership running the military, the previous Secretary of Defense (Donald Rumsfeld) was severely criticized by certain retired officers of the military, despite his having been a fighter pilot.
Dwight David Eisenhower wasn't a great wartime President. He was sworn into office in 1952 and a truce was reached in the Korean conflict about one year later. In fact, he had run on a campaign that made a veiled promise that he would end that conflict.
I served under seven commanders-in-chief. All were veterans of the armed forces. But, it made little difference. Four of them in a row were former Navy officers and not one of them had any appreciation of the use of Naval seapower except Kennedy in the Cuban Missile Crisis. And it was Adlai Stevenson who came up with the idea of the naval quarantine of Cuba.

Chris

While I was in the Army and a vet of Iraq, I do not think so. Government should be open to all, except felons. While military service does help, there has been a great many world leader who never served yet where great wartime leaders.

Carrot

No, I don't - the military lifestyle isn't for everyone and that shouldn't preclude anyone from being President. There's more to being President than being Commander in Chief, and there's no guarantee that being in the military will make you a great wartime president (Look at LBJ).

But I do think that those leaders who haven't served in the military should be humble enough to admit what they don't know and seek advice from those better qualified. And we should take a good long look at what the candidate has done for the country before we vote them in.

Boomer Wisdom

This is similar to denouncing the opinions of people who did not serve in the military; and suggests that civilians have no right to speak about matters of war.

I did not serve; however nearly all my ancestors did in every war this nation ever fought, and they did so that I could retain my rights, even as a civilian.

If this suggestion came to pass, I doubt it would stop at the Presidency, but would spread to all levels of leadership, thence to free speech. At that time, I would then be eligible again to run for President, because by then, I would have taken up arms. And I would not be alone.

ggraves1724

No! If we had that type of mandate there would be more war! Army 68 - 70

Rawbert

I agree 100%. I've always said and felt that in order to be Commander -n-Chief, you need to know what it is like to serve.
Especially when they cut funding, to know how it hurts our military and moral.

Coach

I agree.
But Eisenhower came in at the end of Korea. And advised Kennedy NOT to get involved in Vietnam. Not to take away the greatness of Eisenhower.

I also think all congress and senators need to have served as well.

lisab

Lead from the front not the rear.

Kirk S

You would never have had FDR.

Snuffy

Although desireable it would greatly limit our slection base.
Look what we have offered right now without the restriction.
Egads !

heeltap

I oppose making military service a mandatory qualification for any political office including the Presidency. That said military service is a plus factor if the person's experiences in the military were of the right kind involving leadership, accomplishments, and self-sacrifice. The performance of military duties is a highly honorable act if the reasons for serving were indeed honorable. I compare McCaine's and John Kerry's service against Bush43's service in the Texas Air national Guard and conclude Bush 43 was a spoiled Vietnam draft dodger protected by daddy Bush41. The kind of conditions of service to the country is what matters, if only the gutless corporate news media would tell us the truth.

PS off-topic sidenote: I hope former CBS anchorman Dan Rather from Brazoria, Texas wins his lawsuit against CBS and CEO Fred Silverman. He told the truth about Bush43 and he was crucified for it!

Also I would never vote for any Blackwater mercenary even if he was a decorated military hero.

IKe was a great President and a statesman. He was an honorable President and he said and did things to be admired and imitated. He was part of my Dad's generation but I have studied up on him as should everyone. JFK, who followed was also a great President and his experiences as a PT 109 Boat Captain were really admirable.

laughter_every_day

Ike was not a war-time president. As a peace time president he accomplished almost nothing. Many of our presidents have been vets, but serving a few years in a lower rank does nothing to give one the big picture.

satcomgrunt

Yes it the unique role of the president to act as Commander in Chief. As such they should have some clue as to what goes on day to day in the military and its just logical how can you order some one to do something you have not been willing to do.

tristan_jay33

Thank god we have a minister of defense in germany!

Angela Merkel knows about as much about military as hillary does in the U.S.A.

Franz-josef Jung is a great minister of defense!

Holli

YES

Dale B

No Way ! The US Government must be ran like a Business. Military Men have not always made Great Presidents and besides you can't run the Government like the Military. They are 2 completely different organizations !

justme

No, please no. Then the USA will just be dragging innocent young men into more wars. Trashing up more countries.

A Presidend needs to be statesman, with wisdon and honour. Not someone from boot camp.

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