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Sigma: Journal of Political and International Studies

Joshua DeLaigle

Keywords

soldier desertion, United States Military, military desertion, military support, public support for war

Abstract

Since the beginning of war, soldier desertion has been an issue for military leaders and the politicians supporting them. Desertion from the United States Military is defined in Title 10 of the U.S. Code Article 85 as a member of the armed forces who goes or remains absent from his or her unit or place of duty with the intent to remain away permanently (“10 U.S. Code § 885”). Desertions lessen both unit cohesion and combat readiness, potentially changing the tide of a war. For these reasons, military leaders and academic researchers have been concerned with understanding the phenomenon of soldier desertion to create preventative solutions that can increase military effectiveness and enhance the ability to wage war. Though often studied separately, public support for war and military desertion may be more intertwined than previously acknowledged. Without the public voicing their support for military intervention abroad, morale drops and other forms of support falter. For this reason, public support plays a crucial role in a military’s ability to wage war. Without domestic support for war, a military is left without the necessities required to combat foreign enemies. This study explores the relationship between public support for war and military desertion, shedding further light on the decision-making process when a soldier chooses to desert.

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