Should the U.S. reinstate the draft? With this inside look at the Pentagon and the White House, the author reviews the American military's transformation over the past thirty years into the world's finest fighting force, and describes why the volunteer force is still the best strategy for our national security.

Foreword (Melvin Laird, former Secretary of Defense); What Have We Done? A Summary of Then and Now (1960-2004); The Coming of the All-Volunteer Force (1960-1968); The Coming of the All-Volunteer Force: Analytic Studies (1960-1968); The President's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force - the Gates Commission - and Selective Service Reform (1969-1970); The Studies of the All-Volunteer Armed Force (1969-1970); The Pentagon's Response: The Laird and Kelley Years (1969-1972); Analytic Studies During the Initial Transition Period (1969-1972); Looking Toward the Future: A New Research Agenda (1969-1972); The Second Inning (1973-1976); The Second Inning: Analytic Studies (1973-1976); The Carter Years: The All-Volunteer Force in Distress (1977-1980); The Selective Service Sideshow (1979-1980); The Carter Years: Analytic Studies (1977-1980); Sustaining the All-Volunteer Force: The Reagan-Bush Years (1981-1992); The Role of Women in the All-Volunteer Force; The Reagan-Bush Years: Analytic Studies (1981-1992); Pax Americana and the New World Order: The Clinton and Bush Years (1992-2004); Reaping What You Sow: Analytic Studies of the Clinton and Bush Years (1992-2004); Why Has the All-Volunteer Force Been a Success?; Index.