AVF

abbreviation for

1. all-volunteer force: referring to an armed force made up solely of volunteers during a period when there is no military draft, as the U.S. armed forces since the Vietnam War.

Word History and Origins

Origin of AVF¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

The AVF went on to win the 1991 Gulf War and perform capably in a long series of conflicts that followed.

From Washington Post

Now, however, one retired general told me, “The AVF is facing its most serious crisis since Nixon created it.”

From Washington Post

The likelihood is that the AVF can overcome its current problems with some tweaks such as a new Army program for pre-basic training to condition out-of-shape recruits.

From Washington Post

Those poll numbers reflect a concern among many in the military that the AVF has created a dangerous chasm between the few who serve and the vast majority who don’t.

From Washington Post

“But we have drifted away from the citizen-soldier model that was such a part of our nation’s history. The AVF has helped to create an essentially professional cadre of warriors. We need to work to ensure that our military remains fully connected to the civilian world, and to educate civilians about the military.”

From Washington Post