Should our leaders have military experience?

I think military service experience is extremely important but not everything that a good leader needs to successfully lead a country. In America, you are correct in that most children of senators and other governmental officials go to private universities and colleges and I think this has a lot to do with the fact that their parents can afford to send them there. (We pay their exorbitant salaries, in turn, paying for their childrens' education.) A lot of people who enlist in the army do so for all the benefits they will reap, such as a free college education. They do not plan to go to war. They go when they are told by our government who sits comfortably behind an expensive oak desk in their prominent overdone offices. I think it would be very interesting to see America make military service mandatory, such as the way it's done in Israel. I would love to see those senators react to the thought of their children fighting wars in other countries. I wonder how quickly they'd react to terrorist threats.

Hi,

I don't think military experience is that important for a leader and sometimes it can even cause a leader to lack certain important abilities. There are great leaders who spent no time in military service and on the other hand there are some leaders who have proven to be very influential after spending a substantial amount of time in the military. This just goes to show you that military experience can go both ways. I even think some leaders have their judgment clouded by military paradigms and the rigidity of the military is often a liability when running a country.

A good leader knows to surround himself with good people and amongst those people must also be military experts. That is the key. Knowing your weaknesses and strengthening them by consulting with strong minds. 

Hi,

It really depends on which country you're looking at. some countries like Israel are very much based on generals leaving the military and getting into politics. This has its ups and downs but it suites the Israeli perception of politics being very much about defending the country from being run over.

On the other hand I can imagine that in other countries where the military ethos isn't that strong and where defence isn't such a big issue (Like New Zealand for instance) being in the military isn't any different than leading any big organization.

very interesting question. In really depends on a country.

In US right now people join army as a last resort to get money or find a job and most recrutes are from low-class citizens ( not politically correct term, but you understand what I mean:))

I think that army can give really great skills and only way to get people skills and "stress management" experience. It is the best way to build a man's character.I did not even mentioned yet "promotion" opportunities.

In past, all members of high society were oblgated to serve in the army.

For example, in Russia Empire all members of nobility ( dvoriane) should serve to their country in armed forces, and it was really a honor to be an officer. I know from my family history, that after the boy was born in our family, he usually "assign" to certain military unit. When he became 18, he should serve there starting from first officer's rank.

Right now former military officers are most prominent politics in countries, where war danger is real, like Israel.

In USA, despite of Bush's talk about the war with terrorism, there are no real military danger and military profession is the last resort for social losers ( unfortunately). In our society personal success is more important than the interest of the country. 

That's all bullshit the truth is that many people from all walks of life join the millitary for many different reasons and all of them are aware that they may have to go to war and are perfectly willing to, many many people who do not have money do not join the millitary, more than do. The moral in the milliatary right now is higher than it has been in a long time! These young men and women are proud to be fighting to make the world a better place! I for one think it's important to have our cammander in cheif be someone who knows what it is like to live the life of a soldier preferably in wartime! It also shows that they will not be affraid to do what is neccisary for this country even if it is scary. Futhermore almost all of the presidents in this country (america) have served in the millitary and subsequently also come from wealthy backgrounds, and it has a great deal to do with why our citiczens vote for them, starting with our first president (washington) who had no political experiance and was elected because he was a general during our fight for independance. Ofcourse it's better to have a candidate that has millitary experiance, ofcourse it is.