Is It Feasible to Use Military Reservists for an Extra Week Every Year to Protect Schools?
Unless it is during some kind of crisis, the United States has always frowned upon having the military perform law enforcement duties.
The Limits of Military Involvement
That's one reason why the National Guard only performed airport security for a short time while the TSA was being formed, and why the troops posted on the border aren't allowed to apprehend illegals. They can only report to the Border Patrol, who then handles them.
Despite the presence of veterans among school staff, the current stance on security in schools seems to be to lock the doors and hope for the best. This approach, however, may not be sufficient in the face of increasing security concerns.
The Limitations of Short-Term Engagement
Anybody, or everybody, including janitors, who spends only a week every year in any place never knows the place. They never learn their way about it. This is the reason why we don't hire janitors, or teachers, to spend one week a year at a school and then rotate to other places.
To take care of a place properly, you need to know the place. You need to spend time in it to understand its intricacies. This is why it wouldn't be feasible to rely on personnel who only spend a week and then move on to other places.
Proposed Solutions for School Security
The better solution would be to offer jobs to locals who would attend specific and in-depth training, along with frequent recurrent training. If the job paid what a teacher would get, with a small bonus for the danger that the work would entail, there would be plenty of QUALIFIED volunteers. However, under the Posse Comitatus Act, military Reservists are not allowed to carry out regular gun-toting type jobs in the US except for border defense, protection of airways, shipping, and other activities vulnerable to terrorist disruption.
Revisiting School Safety Policies
Military Reservists play a crucial role in maintaining national security and readiness. Their primary mission is to prepare to support active forces, including overseas deployments. Very few of these personnel are trained to do law enforcement. Consequently, managing safety in schools should remain a function of civilian authorities.
It is a good idea for the military to maintain programs such as JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps) but these programs should not be equated to active law enforcement duties within schools. JROTC focuses on leadership development and physical fitness rather than law enforcement.
Civilian Authorities and School Safety
With approximately 98,000 public schools in the USA and 300,000 military Reservists in total, managing school security on a large scale is a complex task. The responsibility for school safety lies with civilian authorities, who have the necessary expertise, resources, and oversight mechanisms to ensure the safety of students and staff.
While military Reservists can provide support during crises or emergencies, their primary role should remain rooted in their statutory missions. Engaging military personnel for daily school security would be an inefficient use of resources and could potentially undermine the trust and cooperation between military and civilian sectors.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the idea of using military Reservists for an extra week every year to protect schools might seem appealing, it is not a feasible solution. The primary mission of the military Reserve components is to prepare to back up active forces, primarily for overseas deployments. Law enforcement in schools is best handled by civilian authorities with the appropriate training and resources.
It is essential to maintain a clear distinction between military support roles and regular law enforcement duties within schools. JROTC programs, for example, while valuable, should not be seen as a substitute for effective civilian-led school safety initiatives.