Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, maneuver as an Infantry Rifle Squad. Photo: Patrick A. Albright/US Army
A recent survey conducted by American research firm Gallup indicates that public confidence in the US military has reached its lowest point in over 20 years, coinciding with the country’s ongoing support for Ukraine. The poll, carried out from June 1 to 22, followed the announcement of a new $1.2-billion security assistance package for Kyiv to strengthen its air defense capabilities.
Out of the 1,013 Americans who participated in the survey, only 60 percent expressed “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in the US armed forces. This figure is notably lower than the 74 percent recorded in 2018. In fact, the current level of confidence, at 60 percent, was last observed in 1997, harking back to an all-time low in 1981 during the Iran hostage crisis.
Despite the downward trend, the US military remains one of America’s most trusted institutions.
The survey revealed the most significant decline in confidence among Republicans, with a 20-percent drop over a mere three years. In 2020, Republican confidence in the armed forces stood at 91 percent, but it has now fallen to 68 percent. Democrats and Independents reported 62 percent and 55 percent confidence, respectively.
Both Republicans and Democrats attribute perceived politicization as a major factor in their diminishing trust in the military, according to the Reagan Institute.
Soldiers facilitate underground facility operation. Photo: Pfc. Isaiah Scott/US Army
Potential factors contributing to the decline in public confidence have been discussed in various defense outlets. Military.com speculated that the armed forces have been struggling to establish a “public identity” following troop withdrawals from Afghanistan. Additionally, the US military is facing concerns about a depleted ammunition supply, particularly with the manufacturing of 155-millimeter artillery shells lagging behind.
The public’s waning confidence in the military is likely influenced by the complete withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, the two most significant military legacies of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the US, as noted by Gallup.
