He was the 43rd President of the United States of America and served both terms in full, but was George W. Bush ever in the military?
President George W. Bush was in the military, serving with the Texas Air National Guard. In 1968, he was commissioned into the Guard, served, and was honorably discharged in 1974.
Read on to learn more about George W. Bush’s military history.
Parental Advantage
When George W. Bush ran for presidency in both 2000 and 2004, there was some controversy surrounding his military history. The United States is a nation proud of their armed services, and some doubted the legitimacy of Bush’s history.
This speculation wasn’t just around his time serving in the forces, but how he got there in the first place. There were allegations made suggesting Bush did everything he could to avoid active duty. Firstly, he sought entry to a specific sector of the Texas Air National Guard – the officer corps.
He passed the entrance exam, but with the lowest grade possible. It has always been speculated that Bush obtained soft postings in the National Guard owing to his father’s stature at the time. George H. W. Bush was a U.S. Congressman, and likely used his position to influence his son’s treatment.
Bush regularly missed training sessions, neglecting to complete his obligated duties. However, this negligence was overlooked, and Bush went on to enter flight school. He trained as a pilot, and graduated in 1969. Ultimately, he took further training and went on to become an F-102 pilot.
The main controversy revolves around his removal from flight duty. In 1972, Bush failed to register a physical examination, as needed to continue his active service. As a result, he was prohibited from flying.
At this point, Bush all but disappeared off the map, failing to log training or show tangible evidence of his whereabouts for a long period of time. There was a book published in 2002 that explores Bush’s controversial military history.
In this book, it reads, “The U.S News analysis also showed that during the final two years of his obligation, Bush did not comply with Air Force regulations…” Followed by, “Some experts say they remain mystified as to how Bush obtained an honorable discharge.” If he hadn’t fulfilled his mandatory obligations, he surely couldn’t have received an honorable discharge.
Ultimately, George W. Bush managed to avoid the draft for the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge, he attended Harvard Business School and pursued academics. This deferment allowed him to escape the brutal combat scenarios of Vietnam.
Military Stance
George W. Bush’s stance on the military and its activities are world-famous and deeply rooted in history. While serving as President of the United States, America suffered greatly with the events of 9/11. This would ultimately lead Bush into the invasion of Iraq as the opening of the second Gulf War.
This act has been widely documented as extremely controversial and allegedly illegal. In a 2004 article, this notion is explored. The article explains that the “invasion was not sanctioned by the UN security council or in accordance with the UN’s founding charter.”
This middle-eastern conflict would erupt and spread across the region for many years to come. In a later address, you can hear Bush explaining the agenda behind his actions for Afghanistan. He goes on to detail the military movements and strikes against and within the country.
Long after his presidency, George W. Bush remained a staunch supporter of all aspects of the armed forces. In a 2019 Twitter post, The Bush Center expressed their support for military spouses, just as much as their support for veterans.
Although his own military background was shrouded in controversy and secrecy, he remained a firm advocate of the military in general as time wore on.