With yet another fatal crash of the military’s V-22 Osprey aircraft, the Reserve Organization of America wrote Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin on Nov. 29 calling for the immediate grounding of the Osprey.  

The letter was sent in direct response to the fatal crash of the aircraft in Japan on Nov. 29. This disaster, which has claimed at least one life, is the second fatal Osprey crash in four months.

In August, just one year after the Air Force cleared its grounding of Ospreys amid unresolved clutch problems, a Marine Corps Osprey crashed, killing three.

“Mounting evidence suggests that the V-22 Osprey is seriously flawed,” said ROA’s executive director, retired Army Maj. Gen. Jeffrey E. Phillips. He wrote, “The Osprey was first flight tested 34 years ago and fielded to the military 15 years ago; by now it should work reliably. No other U.S. military aircraft exhibits the Osprey’s fatal propensities.” 

Reports state that the Osprey which crashed Wednesday into the sea off Japan was an Air Force aircraft.

As of its crash, 16 V-22 Ospreys have been damaged beyond repair in accidents that have killed a total of 56 people. Four crashes killed a total of 30 people during testing from 1991 to 2000.

While some crashes have been attributed to pilot error, since the V-22 became operational in 2007, 12 crashes, including two in combat zones, and several other accidents and incidents have killed 26 people.  

The V-22 Osprey is a combat aircraft with tiltrotor technology, which combines the vertical performance of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft.

Various issues with the Osprey, however, can cause its uncontrollability with disastrous results. The Osprey in Wednesday’s fatal crash was reportedly inverted, with one of its engines on fire, before plunging into the sea.  

Serving and former service members have expressed to ROA their reluctance to fly in the Osprey. One Marine Corps reservist said he decided not to pursue pilot training because he might be assigned to fly the Osprey.  “If given a choice to fly in the V-22 Osprey, I would not,” a retired Navy commander wrote.

 In ROA’s letter, Phillips wrote, “The evidence has mounted for more than a decade that, while the concept of tiltrotor “briefs well,” this example of the concept is simply not ready for prime time. For the time being, in its absence, other airlift assets would serve – must serve – in the Osprey’s place.” 

“How many more young warriors will die and be injured,” Phillips wrote, “some horribly, before we admit the problem and do the right thing? How much more dread– and potentially grieving – will we force on families and comrades?  Does the continued use of this aircraft enhance trust among families whose son or daughter may be considering service?” 

“The men and women who designed and make the Osprey certainly take justifiable pride in their work for the nation. That is not the issue. If the Osprey is still risking lives because of a reluctance to face a hard reality, that is an issue.” 

“The innovations underlying the Osprey’s advanced capabilities and the willingness and capacity of American industry to develop such a system are essential for modernization,” Phillips said. “Yet the development of military equipment comes at a cost, often a human cost. Sometimes the cost is too high, and we must take a step back for revaluation and, if possible, refinement. With the Osprey, now is that time.”

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

The U.S. has defended itself with an all-volunteer force for 50 years. Relying on conscription during World War I and World War II and the early Cold War, Americans soured on the draft during the prolonged Vietnam War.

Running for president in 1968, Richard Nixon promised to end the draft and established the Gates Commission to assist in that purpose once elected. Congress allowed the draft law to expire in July 1973.

Recognizing this anniversary, William Taylor, author of Every Citizen a Soldier: The Campaign for Universal Military Training After World War II, has assembled this fine anthology, The All-Volunteer Force: Fifty Years of Service. Drawing on recognized experts, it addresses major facets of the all-volunteer force in four parts.

In Part One, “History,” Amy Rutenberg provides historical background. Then, Michael Gibbs and Timothy Perri underscore the role of economists in deciding upon an all-volunteer force. Taylor describes the deliberations of the Gates Commission, and Beth Bailey explores issues concerning race and diversity.

Shifting to Part Two, “Results,” Kara Dixon Vuic examines the roles of women. Jennifer Mittelstadt then describes the evolution of a “wrap-around welfare state” within the military as an incentive for retention and recruitment. Titus Firmin describes the all-volunteer force as firmly middle class, with the lowest socioeconomic quintile not qualifying for and the highest quintile not interested in military service.

In Part Three, “Challenges,” retired U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Gen. Dennis Laich ponders the long-term viability of the all-volunteer force, given a shrinking pool of eligible young people with smaller percentages inclined to military service. Lawrence Wilkerson opines that the all-volunteer force is too easy to use but not big enough to win major wars. Retired Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Phillips then discusses the force’s radically increased reliance on the reserve component.

“Implications” of the all-volunteer force include an emerging culture, explored by Adrian Lewis, wherein service is no longer an expectation of citizenship. Mark Cancian explores force structure, citing the reserve component, government civilians, capital assets and contractors as alternatives to regular forces. Marybeth Ulrich examines force demographics over time, discovering reasonable representativeness but a growing civil-military gap. 

As is often the case with anthologies, transition from one essay to the next can be jarring. Taylor remediates this with a conclusion tying threads together and providing overarching commentary.

The all-volunteer force has enjoyed striking successes and faced troublesome challenges. Not ideal for all circumstances, it seems a best fit that will remain with us unless circumstances substantially change.

The essays are pithy, focused, informative and well documented. Almost 800 tightly written endnotes provide a treasure trove for those wanting to do more research. Taylor also provides a chronology and paragraph-length backgrounds of the contributing authors.

As excellent as this collection is, more attention to alliances and to the “standby draft” might improve it. Most strategic scenarios envision U.S. forces fighting alongside more numerous allies. This influences the size and composition of the all-volunteer force. If the force is too small for a big war, how would a resurrection of conscription work, and what are the plans for having one? Essays on these topics might render a future version of this volume even more comprehensive.

Taylor provides an invaluable service by gathering and publishing this outstanding volume. I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in the experience of our armed forces over the past 50 years. It provides a firm foundation to contemplate the evolution of these forces going forward.

To buy the book, visit https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700634811/. 

Brig. Gen. John Brown, U.S. Army retired, served 33 years in the Army, with his last assignment as chief of military history at the U.S. Army Center of Military History. The author of Kevlar Legions: The Transformation of the United States Army, 1989–2005, he has a doctorate in history from Indiana University.

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FINRED DCFSA Video Guides

Open Season (Nov 13 – Dec 1) – New Benefit Alert! Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSAs) for Service members and their families are now open for enrollment. Contribute up to $5,000 in pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible dependent care expenses. Visit https://www.fsafeds.com/explore/usmdcfsa to enroll today!

Open Season (Dec 4 – Dec 11) – Until December 11 at 11:59 pm ET, Service members can enroll in Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSAs) and allocate up to $5,000 in tax free dollars to pay for eligible dependent care expenses. Visit https://www.fsafeds.com/explore/usmdcfsa to enroll today!

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We say, Thank you

To all the men and women who are serving and who served in the uniformed services of our nation to protect our great nation, we say, Thank you.  

Whether standing watch in the dead hours of the night on a cold and empty perimeter or standing watch on the bridge wing of an American warship in dangerous waters; for your vigilance, you have our Thank you.

When our nation needed you for operations and contingencies and wars around the globe, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief – home and abroad – you stood and answered the call: We say, Thank you.

When you shared those special moments: being recognized for your accomplishments, the laughter you had with comrades, and the grief for a fallen comrade . . . for your being one of our military family, we say, Thank you.

When you sacrificed – time away from family, your sons and daughters, your husband, your wife, your civilian career – to serve and defend the Constitution; for that sacrifice, we say, Thank you.

Happy Veterans Day, Citizen-Warrior – happy because you secure and have secured our liberties so that we may live free men and women. May God continue to bless you, our veterans; and while those blessings flow, we say, Thank you.

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