Editing Demobilization (section)

{{Short description|Decommissioning of military personnel}}
{{hatnote|"Demob" and similar words redirect here. For other uses, see [[Demob (disambiguation)]], [[Demobbed (disambiguation)]] and [[Demob Happy]].}}
[[Image:WWII South African demob papers (front).jpg|right|thumb|Demob papers issued to a South African sailor in February 1946]]
[[Image:WWII South African demob papers (reverse).jpg|right|thumb|Back page of demob papers issued to a South African sailor in February 1946]]
'''Demobilization''' or '''demobilisation''' (see [[American and British English spelling differences|spelling differences]]) is the process of standing down a nation's [[armed forces]] from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in [[war]], or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force is no longer necessary. The opposite of demobilization is [[mobilization]], which is the act of calling up forces for active military service. Forceful demobilization of a defeated enemy is called [[Demilitarisation|demilitarization]].

The [[United Nations]] defines demobilization as "a multifaceted process that officially certifies an individual's change of status from being a member of a military grouping of some kind to being a [[civilian]]".<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=2010 |title=United Nations Operational Guide to the Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Standards |url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/operational-guide-rev-2010-web.pdf#page=146 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=United Nations Peacekeeping |archive-date=2022-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201153431/https://peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/operational-guide-rev-2010-web.pdf#page=146 |url-status=live }}</ref> Persons undergoing demobilization are removed from the command and control of their armed force and group and the transformation from a military mindset to that of a civilian begins. Although combatants become civilians when they acquire their official discharge documents the mental connection and formal ties to their military command structure still exist. To prevent soldiers from rejoining their armed groups, important preparatory work must be done to ensure that combatants are ready to be reintegrated into society and capable of returning to their civilian lives. Civilians play an important role in supporting combatants to return to civilian life by exposing them to civilian lifestyles and mindsets that combat the rigid military mindset soldiers acquire during their time of service.

Demobilization can be partial or complete depending on the number of units removed from the command structure. The process is often a symbolic and significant part of the peace process during which the conflicting sides acknowledge their intent to consolidate peace.

The United Nations identifies demobilization as part of a three-pronged approach to conflict management.<ref>{{cite web |title=Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration |url=https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/disarmament-demobilization-and-reintegration |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=United Nations Peacekeeping |language=en |archive-date=2022-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521132634/https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/disarmament-demobilization-and-reintegration |url-status=live }}</ref> This includes [[disarmament]], demobilization, and [[Social integration|reintegration]] to take combatants out of conflict situations as well as remove weapons and help former members of armed groups rejoin society.

In the final days of [[World War II]], for example, the [[United States Armed Forces]] developed a demobilization plan which would discharge soldiers on the basis of a point system that favored length and certain types of service. The British armed forces were [[Demobilisation of the British Armed Forces after World War II|demobilized]] according to an "age-and-service" scheme.<ref> See [[Alan Allport]], ''Demobbed. Coming Home after the Second World War'', Yale University Press, 2009.</ref>

The phrase ''demob happy'' refers to demobilization and is broadly applied to the feeling of relief at imminent release from a time-serving burden, such as a career.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130416032243/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/demob Demob<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In the [[Russian language]], it is known as ''dembel'' and has become a certain tradition in the Soviet and post-Soviet Armed Forces.  A United States equivalent is "short-timer's disease", comparable to "[[senioritis]]" among United States high school students.