Armed Forces & Society

Armed Forces & Society has been the subject of multiple scholarly publications. Ender (2001) examined the characteristics of the journal's first 25 volumes, exploring such factors as academic, regional, and institutional affiliation, as well as co-authorship and the gender configuration of co-authors.[5] In 2017 Sookermany, Sand and Ender follow-ed up on Ender's original paper. Their study included an analysis of 1,139 articles in the 41 volumes published between 1974 and 2015. The focused on the evolving trends on authorship and affiliation within Armed Forces & Society They discovered a developmental narrative of a continuously higher author–article ratio, an increased female authorship ratio, and a wider range of disciplines from more continents, countries, and institutions, plus a trend of increased cross-national co-authorship.[6] For example, between 1974 and 1984 almost 80% of first authors were from the United States. Between 2006 and 2015 this percent dropped to 53 percent.[7] Over the same time periods, Asian first authors grew from 6 to 16 percent. International collaboration between authors also grew. Between 1974 and 1985, 95% of coauthored papers were written by teams in a single country. This figure dropped to 81 percent between 2006 and 2015.[8]

Other studies have examined the content of Armed Forces & Society in a more focused way. Camacho and Atwood (2007) reviewed publications in Armed Forces & Society between 1974 and 2006 regarding veterans and proposed new research projects on the subject.[9] The journal has also been the subject of study by graduate students in the MPA program at Texas State University. Olldahsi (2002) examined civil-military relations within emerging democracies, as treated in twenty key articles on the subject, and concluded that institutional structures were emphasized, but that there is more room for theoretical scholarship on the subject.[10] Sexton (2003) established descriptive categories for 117 articles between 1998 and 2003, using Seibold's military sociology as a framework for issue categories.[11] Bowman (2005) conducted a descriptive study of manuscripts and reviewers for the journal, utilizing content analysis and archival records analysis.[12] Brady (2010) reviewed articles from the journal between 1974 and 2009 with a focus on peacekeeping issues and found that most peacekeeping articles related to personnel administration among peacekeeping forces. Brady's study concluded that there is a potential for greater publication on the wider political and military context in which peacekeeping missions take place.[13]

According to the Journal Citation Reports, Armed Forces & Society has a 2017 impact factor of 0.548, ranking it 136 out of 169 journals in the category "Political Science" and 121 out of 146 journals in the category "Sociology".[14]

According to Google Scholar, Armed Forces & Society is ranked 14th among the Top 20 Military Studies publications.[15]

The following persons have been Editor-in-Chief of the journal:

• Morris Janowitz (1973–1983)
• David R. Segal (1983–1989)
• Claude E. Welch Jr. (1989–1992)
• Jay Stanley (1992-1995)
• James Burk (1995–98)
• Mark Eitelberg (1998-2001)
• Patricia M. Shields (2001–present)

The following persons have been Editorial Assistants of the Journal:

• Travis Whetsel (2010-2012)
• Colin Smith (2012-2014)
• Chad G. Kunsman (2014-2017)
• Nicole Foy (2017-2018)
• Pamela Tise (2018 to present)

Periodically, Armed Forces & Society compiles articles that cover contemporary, popular issues or topics and publishes them together in one issue as a symposium, continuum, forum, special section, or special issue.

In April 2017, Armed Forces & Society published a special issue on women in the military. This issue was guest edited by Brenda L. Moor, professor of Sociology, University at Buffalo (SUNY). Notable authors included Lindy Heinecken, Tood Woodruff, Ryan Kelty, and Anastasia Prokos. The topics discussed in this issue address problems associated with women in the contemporary military including effects of military service on female veterans, effects of more women in the military work space, recruiting and retaining good women and men, and the culture of masculinity.[16]

In January 2017, Armed Forces & Society published a Symposium (forum_ on the Ethics of Senior Officer Resignation in the United States. Notable authors included Don M. Snider, GEN (Ret.) James M. Dubik, Peter D. Feaver, and Richard H. Kohn. The symposium included a collection of four papers, each looking at principled resignation in different ways. Two authors, Dubik and Snider, believe principled resignation of senior military officers is sometimes justified, especially in wartime, where their inherent morals clash with their professional demands; these senior officer’s ability to resign in protest distinguishes their service to this nation between stewards and servants. Conversely, Feaver and Kohn believe principled resignation is almost never justified as this action weakens the military profession and ultimately threatens national security.[17]

In July 2016, Armed Forces & Society published a Continuum of Employment Related Issues: Active Duty, Family, and Veterans. Notable authors included Irina Goldenberg, Sarah O. Meadows, P. Wesley Routon, and Katharine A. Neill-Harris. Topics addressed in the continuum include the fairness of military employment, pay gaps between military spouses and matched civilians, and transition programs.[18]

In July 2015, Armed Forces & Society published a special section on military families. Notable authors included John J. Hisnanick, Elizabeth P. Van Winkle, and Victoria Bellou. Topics included the impact of multiple deployments on active duty military spouses, earnings penalties of a military spouse, and the work–family interface.[19]

In April 2015, Armed Forces & Society published a special section on transgender issues in the military. Notable authors included M. Jocelyn Elders, James E. Parco, David Levy, and Alan Okros. Topics addressed in the special section included medical aspects of transgender service members and gender identity of Canadian service members.[20]

In January 2014, Armed Forces & Society published a forum on revisiting small wars. This special issue revisited the nature of small wars in the era of great power interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya in the 2000s and compared English and American approaches to small wars.[21]

In July 2014, Armed Forces & Society published a forum on national and social resilience which included four papers that looked at the concept and its applications in different ways that the authors contend are individually and collectively useful for a military leadership and practitioner audience. Notable authors included Reuven Gal, Richard Chasdi, and Guntram F. A. Werther.[22]

Introduction to Armed Forces and Society: Special Issue on Women in the Military | Chad G. Kunsman, Editorial Assistant at Armed Forces & Society, interviews guest editor Brenda Moore about her special issue on women in the military. Publication date: March 3, 2017

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Effectively Working with Military Linguists: Vital Intercultural Intermediaries | Chad G. Kunsman, Editorial Assistant at Armed Forces & Society, interviews author Remi M. Hajjar about his recent article, "Effectively Working with Military Linguists: Vital Intercultural Intermediaries." Publication date: October 17, 2016

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Sanction Failure: Economic Growth, Defense Expenditures, and the Islamic Republic of Iran | Chad G. Kunsman, Editorial Assistant at Armed Forces & Society, interviews author Bruce McDonald III about his recent article, "Sanction Failure: Economic Growth, Defense Expenditures, and the Islamic Republic of Iran," co-authored by Vincent Reitano. Publication date: August 25, 2016

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Introduction to Symposium: Roundtable on the Ethics of Senior Officer Resignation in the United States | Chad G. Kunsman, Editorial Assistant at Armed Forces & Society, interviews General James Dubik and Dr. Peter Feaver about their opposing viewpoints published in the symposium. The symposium also includes viewpoints on resignation from Dr. Don Snider and Dr. Richard Kohn. Publication date: August 15, 2016

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Employment Gaps Between Military Spouses and Matched Civilians | Chad G. Kunsman, Editorial Assistant at Armed Forces & Society, interviews Dr. Sarah Meadows about her forthcoming article "Employment Gaps Between Military Spouses and Matched Civilians,” co-authored with Beth Ann Griffin, Benjamin Karney, and Julia Pollak. Publication date: May 18, 2016

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Suicides in the U.S. Military: Birth Cohort Vulnerability and the All-Volunteer Force | Chad G. Kunsman, Editorial Assistant at Armed Forces & Society, interviews Dr. James Griffith about his forthcoming article "Suicides in the U.S. Military: Birth Cohort Vulnerability and the All-Volunteer Force.” Publication date: May 2, 2016

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Adrenalin Junkies: Why Soldiers Return from War Wanting More | Chad G. Kunsman, Editorial Assistant at Armed Forces & Society, interviews Dr. Morten Brænder about his forthcoming article "Adrenalin Junkies: Why Soldiers Return from War Wanting More.” Publication date: June 4, 2015

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The Battle for Equivalency: Female US Marines Discuss Sexuality, Physical Fitness, and Military Leadership | Patricia M. Shields, Editor of Armed Forces & Society, interviews author Connie Brownson about her article "The Battle for Equivalency: Female US Marines Discuss Sexuality, Physical Fitness, and Military Leadership." Publication date: October 24, 2014

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Military Service and Alcohol Use in the United States | Chad G. Kunsman, Editorial Assistant at Armed Forces & Society, interviews Dr. Jay Teachman about his article with co-authors Dr. Carter Anderson and Dr. Lucky M. Tedrow titled “Military Service and Alcohol Use in the United States.” Publication date: October 2, 2014

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Contentious Veterans: China’s Retired Officers Speak Out | Colin Smith, Editorial Assistant at Armed Forces & Society, interviews Dr. Neil J. Diamant about his article with co-author Dr. Kevin J. O'Brien titled "Contentious Veterans: China’s Retired Officers Speak Out.” Publication date: July 1, 2014

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