首个退伍军人节107周年之际，美国正面临现代史上最具挑战性的国家安全环境之一。这个节日让我们有机会反思，210万身着军装的美国人如何看待他们对国家的持续服役。
On the 107th anniversary of the first Veterans Day, our nation is facing one of the most challenging national security environments in modern history. The day gives us an opportunity to reflect on how the 2.1 million Americans in uniform view their ongoing service to the nation.
由于美国军方报告称，从疫情时期的低点出现大幅回升，财政年度2026年现役部队、国民警卫队和大多数预备役部队的招募和留任目标基本实现或超额完成，特朗普政府认为，全军满意度很高。然而，部分成功归因于民用就业市场降温；初级军人薪酬大幅上涨，包括近年来历史性的10%士兵薪资增长；扩大的入伍前学术和体能准备课程；以及重组的招募指挥部。不过，最近的一项民调显示，许多军人感到被政客和社会抛弃，并决定尽快退役。
Because the U.S. military reported a massive turnaround from pandemic-era lows and broadly met or exceeded its recruiting and retention goals for active-duty, National Guard and most reserve forces for fiscal 2026, the Trump administration argues that there’s a high level of satisfaction across the force. However, some of that success has been attributed to a cooling civilian job market; significant junior military pay increases, including historic 10% enlisted pay raises in recent years; expanded pre-enlistment academic and fitness preparation courses; and restructured recruiting commands. A recent poll, however, suggests many military personnel feel abandoned by politicians and society and have decided to leave the service as soon as possible.
伊朗战争导致重大海外部署和高作业节奏（OPTEMPO），增加了军人及其家庭的压力，对未来的招募和留任有重大影响。航空母舰亚伯拉罕·林肯号和驱逐舰斯普鲁恩斯号各自部署超过300天。斯普鲁恩斯号在海上航行342天，创下二战后纪录。第82空降师的一个旅在该地区驻扎了八个月，其士兵最近被告知，部署将延长至明年。
Major overseas deployments and a high operational tempo (OPTEMPO) due to the war in Iran have increased the strain on service members and their families, with significant implications for future recruiting and retention. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and destroyer USS Spruance were each deployed for more than 300 days. Spruance set a post-World War II record with 342 days underway. A brigade from the 82nd Airborne Division has spent eight months in the region, and its soldiers were recently told their deployment will extend into next year.
现役人员也了解国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯改革军队、灌输他所描述的“战士精神”的努力。他们意识到，他政治化的愿景包括在消除多元化、公平和包容计划方面采取强硬立场，有些人甚至认同这一愿景。但赫格塞斯似乎一意要削弱“公民士兵”的概念，并用一个男性、白人、基督徒的特殊阶层来取代它。
Active-duty personnel are also aware of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s efforts to reform the military and instill what he describes as a “warrior ethos.”They realize his politicized vision includes a hard-line stance on eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and some even agree with that vision. But Hegseth seems bent on eroding the notion of the “citizen soldier” and replacing it with a distinct class that is male, white and Christian.
这对未来的征募和留任将是灾难性的，尤其是对女性和少数族裔。赫格塞斯在没有理由的情况下解雇高级女军官、将合格女性从晋升名单中移除，并认为女性不应在战斗岗位服役，年轻女性为何还会加入——或留在——军队中？年轻的非裔美国人又该如何看待一个五角大楼，它至少曾短暂地移除了专门介绍杰基·罗宾逊军事服务的网页，据报道还在考虑将珍珠港英雄多里斯·米勒的名字从一艘正在建造的舰船上移除？
This will be disastrous for recruitment and retention in the future, especially for women and minorities. Why would a young woman join — or remain in — the military after Hegseth has fired senior female officers without cause, removed qualified women from promotion lists and argued women should not serve in combat roles? How should a young Black American react to a Pentagon that, at least briefly, removed a webpage devoted to the military service of Jackie Robinson and is reportedly considering removing Pearl Harbor hero Doris Miller’s name from a ship under construction?
许多现役人员，尤其是高级士官和军官，对赫格塞斯的领导深感尴尬和沮丧，这可能导致他们提前退役或退伍。2025年9月，赫格塞斯在总统唐纳德·特朗普的陪同下，召集来自世界各地的高级军事指挥官到弗吉尼亚州夸提科，发表了一场高度政治化的演讲，嘲讽“肥将军”、胡须和“穿裙子的家伙”。多位出席会议的高级国防官员和军官将这次昂贵的会议描述为“尴尬”，但赫格塞斯几个月前对600名初级军官发表了类似的牢骚。
Many active-duty members, particularly senior NCOs and officers, have expressed deep embarrassment and frustration with Hegseth’s leadership, which may cause them to separate or retire early. In September 2025, the secretary, accompanied by President Donald Trump, summoned top military commanders from around the globe to Quantico, Virginia, to deliver a highly political lecture mocking “fat generals,” facial hair and “dudes in dresses.”Multiple senior defense officials and officers in attendance described the expensive meeting as “embarrassing,” but Hegseth delivered a similar rant to 600 junior officers a few months ago.
2025年10月，他在“乔治·华盛顿”号航空母舰上为特朗普发表了一场“造势”演讲，却遭到船员尴尬的沉默。
In October 2025, he delivered a “hype man” speech for Trump aboard the USS George Washington that was met by an embarrassing dead silence by the crew.
战争性质正在迅速改变，未来的冲突中，不创新将以鲜血为代价。但赫格塞斯已终止从乌克兰战争中汲取教训的努力，关闭了一个专注于转变军队以应对这些新兴挑战的陆军部队。但战争是严酷的教师，其教训之一就是，不创新将在下一场冲突中以鲜血为代价。赫格塞斯似乎更关注个人形象和部队的睾酮水平，而非创新。
The nature of warfare is changing rapidly and failure to innovate will be paid in blood in future conflicts. But Hegseth has ended efforts to learn from the war in Ukraine by shutting down an Army unit focused on transforming the military to meet these emerging challenges. But war is a harsh teacher and one of its lessons is that the failure to innovate is paid for in blood in the next conflict. Hegseth seems far more concerned with personal appearance and troops’ testosterone levels than innovation.
退伍军人和现役军人有理由担心，国防部长似乎认为战争应当不受约束地进行，且纯粹是交易性的。这就是他主张尊重国际法或努力避免平民伤亡是软弱表现的原因。但这并非美军的精神。事实上，这与海军陆战队的一句格言直接冲突，那句格言更能描述美国战士精神：“没有比美国海军陆战队员更好的朋友，也没有比他更坏的敌人。”对无辜平民和盟友的同情必须与战斗中的凶猛并存。
Veterans and those in uniform are right to be concerned by the defense secretary’s apparent belief that war should be conducted without constraints and is solely transactional. This is why he argues respect for international law or efforts to avoid civilian casualties are examples of weakness. But this is not the ethos of the American military. In fact, it’s in direct conflict with a Marine Corps maxim that better describes the American warrior ethos: “There is no better friend or worse enemy than an American Marine.”Compassion toward innocent civilians and allies must exist with ferocity in combat.
有一句被认为是罗纳德·里根总统说过的话：“有些人度过一生，都在想自己是否曾在世界上有所作为。退伍军人没有这个问题。”但这种情感只有在他们以荣誉、尊重和正直服役时才成立。在国防部长嘲笑战争规则的情况下，一些服役人员坚守这些价值观比应有的更加困难，但他们对所服务的国家负有维护这些价值观的责任，也对过去服役过的人负有责任。
There’s a quote that’s been attributed to President Ronald Reagan that says, “Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world. A veteran doesn’t have that problem.”But that sentiment is true only to the extent that they serve with honor, respect and integrity. With a defense secretary scoffing at the rules of war, it’s harder than it should be for some of our service members to hold on to those values, but they owe it to the nation they serve to maintain them, and they owe it those who served in the past.