This course examines a number of major policy choices in recruiting American men and women into military service, and the political and cultural controversies that have surrounded those choices, from the late 18th century to today (with the focus on World War I to the present). The main topics to be covered all from a historical perspective -- will likely include most or all of the following: 1) the draft, the all-volunteer military, and the Reserves/National Guard as methods of military recruitment; 2) the exclusion/incorporation of African Americans, women, and gays into military service; 3) the recruitment and training of enlistees and draftees; 4) the recruitment and training of military officers; and 5) protest movements against military recruitment. The course will be discussion based and centered on analysis of required readings for each class. Evaluation of students performance will be based on: a) participation and leadership in class discussions, b) a mid-term and final exam, and 3) a term paper based on primary historical sources, or a critical book review, that elaborates one or more of the themes raised in class (approximately 2500 words).
