30th Anniversary of the All-Volunteer Force

Proclamation 7690 of July 1, 2003

30th Anniversary of the All-Volunteer Force

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Throughout our history, members of the United States
Armed Forces have inspired our citizens with their
bravery, honor, and dedication. Our Nation continues to
be grateful for the courageous men and women who have
demonstrated extraordinary patriotism in choosing to
help defend America and the cause of freedom.

For the last 30 years, we have been fortunate to have a
military composed entirely of volunteers. When our
country's All-Volunteer Force was born on July 1, 1973,
no comparable military in the world operated on a fully
volunteer basis. Throughout most of the 20th century,
the majority of our Armed Forces personnel were
drafted, serving our Nation in both World Wars, the
Korean conflict, and Vietnam. In the late 1960s, the
American public's dissatisfaction with the draft
prompted President Richard Nixon to establish The
President's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force.
After studying whether to retain the draft or establish
a volunteer military, the Commission concluded that a
volunteer force would be economically viable and
potentially more effective. After much debate, the
Nixon Administration and the Congress allowed the
authority for the draft to lapse, and the All-Volunteer
Force was created.

Since that time, our volunteer Armed Forces personnel
have upheld the finest traditions of our military and
our country. Today, more than 1.4 million men and women
choose to serve on active duty, along with nearly
880,000 members of the National Guard and Reserves.
These volunteer soldiers helped to win the Cold War,
turn back aggression during the Persian Gulf War, keep
the peace in the former Yugoslavia, liberate oppressed
people in Afghanistan and Iraq, and defend freedom
around the world.

As we look toward the future of our country and our
military, our Nation gives thanks for the prowess of
our military, and we remain committed to providing our
service men and women with the tools and training they
need to continue to be the best in the world. On the
celebration of the 30th anniversary of our All-
Volunteer Force, I join Americans in thanking these
brave men and women for choosing to serve in defense of
the Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim July 1, 2003, as the 30th
Anniversary of the All-Volunteer Force. I call upon all
Americans to join me in recognizing this anniversary
with heartfelt thanks and continued support for the men
and women who defend our great Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand
three, and of the Independence of the United States of
America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

(Presidential Sig.)B