In the United States of America, military service commands immense respect. Equally revered, however, is the principle that the Armed Forces must remain above partisan politics. Such appearances have triggered a debate over whether the stature earned by military service is being transferred, intentionally or otherwise, into partisan political contests. On the contrary, their experience in leadership, administration, national security and public service can enrich the democratic debate. Preserving that distinction is not a limitation on the democratic rights of military veterans, it is a safeguard for the military institution itself.