Spring 2026 Winner of the Homeland Heroes Scholarship

Olivia Boaz

Olivia Boaz has been named the Spring 2026 winner of the Homeland Heroes Scholarship. We are honored to support the education of a veteran’s child and are thrilled to see Olivia continue to thrive while she earns her degree.

Read Their Essay Here:

The military has traditionally served as the ultimate guarantor of national sovereignty, its role defined by the singular mandate of defense against existential threats. In the twenty-first century, however, the concept of national security has broadened to encompass threats ranging from sophisticated cyberattacks and climate destabilization to economic espionage and global pandemics. Consequently, the role of a modern military in shaping a country’s future must similarly evolve from a purely defensive force to a strategic, adaptive instrument of national power. This future mandate should be defined by a dual responsibility: serving as a catalyst for domestic stability and technological innovation, while simultaneously acting as a critical enabler of diplomacy and a primary tool of humanitarian engagement on the global stage.

The military’s most profound impact on the nation’s future will be through its function as a catalyst for technological and human capital development. Unlike many government agencies, the defense sector possesses the unique combination of massive budgetary resources, a clear mission imperative, and a high tolerance for risk necessary to drive truly disruptive research and development (R&D). Historically, military-funded projects—ranging from jet propulsion and nuclear power to the internet and GPS—have generated revolutionary civilian spin-offs, forming the backbone of modern industrial and information economies. For the nation's future, this trajectory must be formalized, with defense R&D spending strategically linked to national economic goals, particularly in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, directed energy, and hypersonics. The military should not merely consume technology, but actively nurture a healthy national science and technology base, ensuring that defense innovation acts as an engine of broad economic growth and maintains a competitive edge in global markets.

Beyond traditional defense and technological advancement, the military must assume the mantle of the nation’s primary protector in the cyber domain. Cyber warfare is a persistent, non-traditional threat that targets not only military secrets but also the critical infrastructure underpinning daily life: the power grid, financial institutions, communication networks, and health systems. The military's unique expertise in threat intelligence, network defense, and rapid response capabilities must be leveraged in close cooperation with civilian agencies and private industry. The military should serve as the nation's vanguard, developing both defensive and deterrent cyber capabilities to establish norms of behavior in this new battlespace. This is a vital domestic security function that defines the future of defense, requiring a continuous influx of specialized technical talent drawn from the civilian sector and fostered through advanced military training programs.

Furthermore, the military contributes fundamentally to domestic stability and resilience. Its organizational structure, logistical expertise, and command-and-control capabilities are unparalleled assets for non-combat roles. In an era marked by increasing climate volatility and complex national emergencies, the armed forces are ideally positioned to act as the primary support mechanism for civilian agencies during natural disasters, pandemics, or infrastructure crises. The sheer organizational capacity to mobilize resources, deliver medical aid, and coordinate complex supply chains rapidly is a national asset that transcends the battlefield. Moreover, military service itself is a powerful mechanism for building human capital. By instilling discipline, technical skills, and leadership in diverse segments of the population, the military functions as a massive, high-impact vocational and educational institution. The specialized skills and values imparted to service members—from advanced engineering to crisis management—are ultimately transferred back into the civilian workforce, enriching the nation’s talent pool and contributing to a more resilient, capable citizenry upon their return to civilian life.

In interacting with the wider world, the military’s role should be fundamentally integrated into a cohesive strategy of "Defense, Diplomacy, and Development" (the "3Ds"), with hard power serving to enable soft power. This begins with strategic deterrence and alliance management. A strong, technologically superior military provides the necessary credibility for diplomatic engagement. It is the diplomatic backstop, ensuring that threats to national interests or international stability are met with a united, decisive response. In this capacity, the military must focus heavily on interoperability and joint training exercises with treaty allies. These activities are not merely operational necessities; they are acts of defense diplomacy that strengthen strategic partnerships, share the burden of global security, and establish regional stability through shared commitment.

Defense diplomacy, in its purest form, involves the peaceful use of military cooperation to build security relationships and minimize hostility. This includes sharing best practices in non-lethal areas like logistics, medical readiness, search and rescue, and counter-piracy training. Such ongoing, routine military-to-military engagements foster mutual understanding, increase transparency regarding intentions, and dramatically reduce the likelihood of miscalculation in tense regions. These acts of professional military engagement, though peaceful, are powerful, long-term tools for establishing global trust and mitigating conflict before it escalates. The goal is to build a network of capable partners who share the burden of maintaining international order.

Crucially, the military’s international engagement should foreground its humanitarian imperative and public diplomacy function. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions, such as deploying hospital ships or engineering units after a catastrophe, are powerful demonstrations of national values and build lasting goodwill in regions where traditional diplomacy may struggle. Similarly, participation in multilateral peacekeeping operations and providing security sector reform training to partner nations are essential to cultivating global stability. By consistently modeling respect for the rule of law, civilian control of the military, and human rights through such engagement, the armed forces project soft power and act as ambassadors for democratic principles, establishing trust at the community level.

To maintain legitimacy and effectiveness in its global interactions, the military must consistently demonstrate unwavering adherence to international law and ethical conduct. Any use of military power, whether in self-defense, counter-terrorism, or stabilization operations, must be proportional, necessary, and compliant with the laws of armed conflict. This commitment to ethical standards is not a weakness but a strategic asset; it solidifies alliances, distinguishes the nation from its adversaries, and underpins the moral authority required to lead international coalitions. The future military must be a highly disciplined force that understands that its values are as important as its capabilities in shaping a peaceful and prosperous world order.

In conclusion, the role of the military in shaping the country’s future is far more expansive than guarding its borders. It must be envisioned as a highly adaptable, professional, and strategically applied national resource. Domestically, it is a crucial investor in future technologies, a vanguard in the cyber domain, and a core provider of resilience and human capital. Globally, it acts as the essential foundation for deterrence, while concurrently serving as the preeminent instrument for defense diplomacy, alliance building, and humanitarian outreach. By embracing these multifaceted responsibilities, the military can effectively navigate the complexities of the modern security environment, ensuring both the nation’s safety and its continued positive influence on the wider world.