In this article, we assess how the political attitudes of veterans compared to those of nonveterans have changed historically. We draw hypotheses from research and theory suggesting that veterans are relatively conservative due to either selection or socialization. We use General Social Survey data from 1974-1985 and 2010s, which include questions about service length, conservative identity, party affiliation, and beliefs about government spending. The analyses show differences across eras, with data from more recent years showing that veterans are generally more conservative than nonveterans. These differences may stem from selection—specifically, the transition from the draft era, when between a quarter and more than half of eligible men served, to a volunteer force, when only a much smaller share do so. The article also presents evidence consistent with socialization: veterans who served for longer periods tend to be more conservative than both nonveterans and those who served for shorter periods.
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