By Lizzie Devitt

Recent years have presented unique challenges to civil-military (civ-mil) relations in the United States.  And then the global pandemic hit. 

On April 23, Duke in DC and Duke’s Program in American Grand Strategy (AGS) co-hosted a virtual congressional briefing with General Martin Dempsey G’84. Peter Feaver, a professor of political science and director of AGS, participated in a Q&A with General Dempsey about the current state of U.S. civil-military relations from his perspective as former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Feaver first asked Gen. Dempsey how he interpreted the conditions of civ-mil relations prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. General Dempsey named three key priorities in civ-mil relations:

  • Defining priorities – In civ-mil relations, there is a gulf between our expectations of each other
  • Defining progress – Measuring readiness and campaign progress comes from so many sources, it can be challenging to truly define progress
  • Oversight – Each administration and/or congress applies their own level of oversight to military activities

“We are in a crisis now and it will exacerbate certain issues while muting other things,”

Gen. Martin Dempsey

To follow up on his first question, Feaver asked Gen. Dempsey about new developments in civ-mil relations due to COVID-19. “We are in a crisis now,” Dempsey stated, “It will exacerbate certain issues while muting other things.” He also said that he anticipates increased military budget constraints, shifts in defense spending, changes in federal oversight and opinions about America’s role within the global landscape to be challenged.

General Dempsey stated, “We are headed towards significant disagreements from all levels of government on how we want to return to normal. The military is going to be faced with issues related to federal government versus state government compliance, for instance, where soldiers are deployed.”

Feaver stressed that state governors can’t force the military to change their policy. He added that there have always been concerns over the chain of command, but that these issues have been especially prevalent in recent years under the current administration.

“We are headed towards significant disagreements from all levels of government on how we want to return to normal.”

Gen. Martin Dempsey

General Dempsey explained that pandemics are issues of national security and that COVID-19 needs to be prioritized. He said that we should look to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as a leader of technology to counter the pandemic.

Feaver placed the issue in perspective by stating, “Pandemic is priority number one, but it is not our only threat as a country…The rest of the military to-do list remains as important as ever.” He underlined this message by saying congressional staff can help, “make sure those aspects of the force focused on those issues, remain focused on those issues.”

“Pandemic is priority number one, but it is not our only threat as a country…The rest of the military to-do list remains as important as ever.”

Peter Feaver