Dennis Laich

Segment Synopsis: Laich grew up in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, his father worked in the steel mill and his mother was a clerk at a grocery store. He always knew he would go into the military, but in a different way than his relatives. He went to school on a football scholarship and joined the ROTC to become a commissioned officer. This raised a lot of questions from his relatives, who had all been enlisted, but after a meeting at the Croatia Club his family gave its support.

Keywords: Monaca (Pa.); Navistar International Corporation; New Brighton (Pa.); Springfield (Ohio); United States. Army

Subjects: Childhood; Enlisted vs. Officer; Military Tradition

Segment Synopsis: schooling, artillery to police, assistant chief of staff

Keywords: Artillery, Field and mountain; Basic training; Field Artillery Center and School (Fort Sill, Okla.); Indiantown Gap Military Reservation (Pa.); Military police

Subjects: College ROTC; Diverse opportunities in the military

Segment Synopsis: During his time the Army Reserves have transformed from a true reserve to an operational organization. Laich talks about the challenges faced by the all-volunteer forces who have recently been deployed an average of 1 out of every 5 years.

Keywords: Deployment (Strategy); Military service, Voluntary; United States. Army Reserve

Subjects: The challenges of balancing military and civilian responsibilities

Segment Synopsis: Laich discusses the disruption vs contribution of having General Officers in a combat zone and the importance of security for all military personnel at home and abroad. He believes that despite the United States' best efforts we will not be able to prevent every terrorist attack and must focus on our nations resiliency. He also talks about the National Guard's involvement in coping with natural disasters.

Keywords: Inkster (Mich.); Iraq; Military bases, American--Security measures; Natural disasters; Pentagon; Private military companies; Status of forces agreements; Terrorism--Prevention

Subjects: Military Security; Resiliency and Terrorism; Status of Forces Agreement

Segment Synopsis: Laich discusses the United States history of asymmetrical wars. He regards the National Reserve as a fully-integrated part of the Military, putting a terrible stress on its soldiers. He discusses changing military strategies, what the United States didn't learn from the Vietnam War, and looks critically at counter-insurgency strategy. He also discusses the difficulties veterans can have receiving benefits and support from the Veterans Administration.

Keywords: Counter-insurgency operations; Insurgency; McNamara, Robert S., 1916-2009; Military doctrine; Military service, Voluntary; Military strategy and operational art; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; Shiites; Sunnis; United States. Veterans Administration; Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Subjects: Changes in the military since 2001; Counter-insurgency tactics; Improvised explosive device and changing dangers; Learning from the Vietnam War; Veterans Administration

Segment Synopsis: Laich gives an overview of the 94th Readiness Command, which was his last command before retiring. He describes how training has changed in part to changing mentalities and the addition of women to traditionally male-only roles. He also examines the recent record of accountability for high-level officers.

Keywords: Fort Devens (Mass.); Marshall, George C. (George Catlett), 1880-1959; Military education; Politics; United States. Army. Regional Readiness Command, 94th; Women and the military

Subjects: Changing training tactics; Military accountability; The 94th Readiness Command

Segment Synopsis: Laich supported the repeal of the Don't ask, Don't tell policy of the United States military. He discusses his role in the repeal, why he was against the law, and what he feels is truly important about military service members.

Keywords: Don't ask, don't tell (Military personnel policy); Gay military personnel; Military discharge,; Servicemembers Legal Defense Network; Shalikashvili, John M

Subjects: Repeal of Don't ask, Don't tell

Segment Synopsis: Laich discusses his work with the PATRIOTS program at Ohio Dominican University which helps veterans attend and succeed at higher learning. He explains why veterans are so capable in the classroom.

Keywords: Civil-military relations; Ohio Dominican University; Post-traumatic stress disorder; United States. Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008

Subjects: Veterans' success in college

Segment Synopsis: Laich started the All-Volunteer Force Forum after writing the book "Skin in the Game: Poor Kids and Patriots" which analyzes the all-volunteer force based on fairness, efficiency, and sustainability. He believes that if more people's lives were directly impacted by military decisions our country would have a more efficient military whose use would be more closely debated. He shares his plan for how the military may restructure its recruiting around a draft lottery that would save the country 75 billion dollars annually.

Keywords: Draft; John F. Kennedy School of Government. Institute of Politics; Military service, voluntary; United States. Reserve Forces Policy Board; Wilkerson, Lawrence B

Subjects: Remaking military recruitment; The all-volunteer force

Segment Synopsis: Laich discusses the dangers of allowing your position as a general officer go to your head. He also discusses the burden of responsibility of general officers, "America has given you its sons and daughters and their lives."

Keywords: Ego; Responsibility; Weight control

Subjects: Commanding officer and senior NCO relations; The responsibilities of being a general officer; The seductive side of being a general officer

Segment Synopsis: In the mid 1990s Winston Allen an Army Criminal Investigations Special Agent who had served in the Philippines gave this short-sword and teacup to Laich as a gift celebrating his promotion to general. Allen explained that in World War II a Japanese officer had tried to keep them out of American hands by giving them to a Filipino man. That man decided that an American military man should have these items and so presented them to Mr. Allen. Laich said that to him the sword and teacup represent the continuing of military tradition and are emblematic of respect.

Keywords: Gifts; Tradition; Warrant officers

Subjects: Sword (swagger stick, sword stick) and ceremonial Japanese teacup

Segment Synopsis: Laich still feels the same about his service, but being retired has given him that chance to consider more deeply its significance. He wishes that people would understand the sacrifices and nature of military service.

Keywords: Retirement

Subjects: Opinion of Service; What should people know about those who serve