American Military History, Volume 2 by Richard W. Stewart

Even while the Vietnam War was raging, the Army and the Depart- ment of Defense had begun tentative planning to transition to an all- volunteer force. For most planners, this was new ground. Except for a short period of time immediately after World War II, the Army had not had a volunteer force since just before the United States entered World War II. Commanders could rely upon the steady flow of young men of reasonable physical and mental quality, since they had the entire man- power of the country to draw upon. Recruiting was not a high priority: it was not seen as entirely necessary. Why struggle to meet a quota for recruits when the draft guaranteed enough men to fill the force? The reserve components, both the National Guard and Army Reserve, were at full strength and even overstrength, as young men flocked to those units to fulfill their service obligations with a minimal risk of going to Vietnam.

With the election of President Richard M. Nixon in 1968, the prospect of ending the draft became a real possibility. As a result, the Defense Department started a study project entitled Project Volunteer in November 1968 to determine the feasibility of recruiting an all- volunteer force while still maintaining military effectiveness. Quickly, many key issues began surfacing: how to get enough high-quality sol- diers, how to keep them, how to pay for them, and what management and leadership practices would create an effective military force out of this voluntary manpower.