Senior Airman Cardarious Houston and Senior Airman Tamarra Crowe, 66th Force Support Squadron career development technicians, render salutes at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., March 1. (Mark Herlihy/U.S. Air Force)
As our nation faces new challenges at home and abroad — and as political divisions undermine our ability to find solutions — much more needs to be done to tap the full potential of national and military service.
America’s greatness comes from the extraordinary acts of ordinary citizens tackling pressing challenges, from combating the opioid epidemic and supporting veterans to rebuilding communities after disasters and helping students stay on track to graduate. As de Tocqueville famously remarked, America is a “nation of joiners,” distinctive for its rich tradition of individuals coming together to solve problems. To meet growing challenges at home and abroad, we need to unleash that spirit of service now more than ever.
Five years ago, as the COVID pandemic was starting its deadly march around the globe, the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service released its report and recommendations to President Donald Trump, Congress and the American people. This bipartisan commission is the first in history to take a deep look at America’s longstanding tradition of service and how to strengthen all forms of service to meet the national security and domestic needs of our great nation.
The culmination of three years of research and conversations with Americans across the country in 22 states and testimony and public comments submitted by thousands of people, the Inspired to Serve report offered a modern vision and comprehensive roadmap to strengthen all forms of service to address critical national and domestic needs, invigorate civil society, and strengthen our democracy.
As someone who has served as a volunteer firefighter, paramedic, physician, major general in the U.S. Army Reserve, a member of Congress, and chair of this bipartisan commission, I know firsthand how vital service is to the health and security of our nation. But indeed, the commission’s recommendations are even more relevant today.
We found that America’s extraordinary spirit of service — embedded in our national DNA — continues to shape the life of our nation. We also heard a strong desire for dramatically more opportunities to serve to meet growing national security and domestic challenges. We learned that the potential of service remains largely untapped.
Some of the report’s yet unfulfilled recommendations include:
Beginning with civic education and service learning starting in kindergarten through high school.
Expanded service opportunities so that a year of national service becomes a rite of passage for young adults.
New and revitalized service options for adults of any age or background.
The commission recommended a new Service Year Fellowship program to expand service opportunities and applauded Govs. Spencer Cox of Utah and Wes Moore of Maryland for developing new service programs along these lines.
National service includes military service
We must ensure our military has the talent it needs to meet emerging challenges around the globe, including the growing threat of cyber warfare. The commission’s recommendations to increase awareness, bolster recruitment and narrow the civil-military divide will build a more capable and stronger military to meet national security needs.
We applaud Sens. Jack Reed, Todd Young and Chris Coons, and Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, Don Bacon, Jack Bergman and Jimmy Panetta, for reintroducing the bipartisan Unity Through Service Act. This legislation will enact the commission’s recommendation to create a new White House Interagency Service Council led by an assistant to the president to develop a comprehensive strategy to link military and civilian service, increase opportunities to serve, and demonstrate how service can be used to meet the nation’s challenges.
AmeriCorps engages 200,000 Americans in tackling pressing challenges, from combating the opioid epidemic and supporting veterans to rebuilding communities after disasters and helping students stay on track to graduate. Investing in national service is not just a proven way to solve problems; it’s also a great deal for the taxpayer. An independent study found that every federal dollar invested in AmeriCorps provides $17 of value in return, making it one of the best investments the federal government makes.
Public servants perform a critical role in the lives of every American — ensuring public safety, preventing and curing diseases, keeping our food supply safe, and much more.
The commission’s recommendations to fix outdated federal hiring practices will ensure agencies can attract the talent they need to better serve the American people.
We renew our call on Congress and the administration to act on the commission’s recommendations to bolster America’s culture of service in pursuit of a stronger, safer, more resilient nation.
Now is the time — and Inspired to Serve remains the plan — to strengthen service and achieve the vision of every American, inspired and eager to serve.
Dr. Joe Heck is a physician who served as chairman of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service from 2017-2020. He is a retired U.S. Army Reserve major general and represented Nevada’s 3rd District in the House of Representatives from 2011-2017.
