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The military has historically served as a vehicle for social mobility. There has been a dramatic decline in the number of Ivy-league college graduates who join the US military, for instance. This is an inevitable and welcome process if the ‘elite’ move onto more lucrative careers, creating opportunities for others. Dealing with these, and future changes, will require an innovative approach. It is not evident whether military, bureaucracy or political leaders are up to this task.

The writer is a PhD candidate at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, Washington D.C.