# What Americans Think About Veterans and Military Service  ## Metadata - Author:: [[Meredith Kleykamp]] - Full Title:: What Americans Think About Veterans and Military Service - Category: #articles - URL: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1363-7.html??cutoff=true&utm_source=AdaptiveMailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7014N000001SniNQAS&utm_term=00v4N00000jqf94QAA&org=1674&lvl=100&ite=283486&lea=1655609&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a0wQK000001HBcoYAG ## Highlights > Although the public still holds the military generally in high esteem compared with other major institutions, that esteem is wavering, influenced by such factors as the end of the war in Afghanistan, the increased polarization of the public, and heightened politicization of the military. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hktn7jgwbtbsc9epkzew4p6c)) ##### Key Findings > Public perceptions of veterans are overwhelmingly positive ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hktn8jss1dq9wfe4b4f6aadq)) > Perceptions of veterans differ by respondents' age, political party identification, prior military service, family members' service, and race/ethnicity. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hktn8v3j8kbw71kt69734xyf)) > A majority of Americans (54.4 percent) would discourage a young person close to them from enlisting in the military, but a majority of Americans (61.2 percent) would encourage a young person to join the military via Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) or a service academy (i.e., as an officer). Nearly one-third (31 percent) of those who would discourage enlisting in the military would encourage joining via ROTC or a service academy. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hktn9drxnmsr31kgp3venypp)) > Nearly one-quarter of adults believe that most Americans look up to members of the military, and ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hktn9qh8sez5bn3xp026920q)) > Holding more-negative veteran stereotypes is associated with a lower probability of encouraging a young person to join the military and with a higher probability of believing that most Americans look down on the military. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hktn9yyz14b413wpn3b6wb8d))