Editing Demobilization

{{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.

== Two approaches to demobilization ==
The [[United Nations peacekeeping|United Nations Peacekeeping]] Operational Manual lists two different approaches to demobilization. These approaches are the semi-permanent demobilization sites (cantonment) or the mobile method which means demobilization at the sites where ex-combatants are gathered.<ref name=":0" /> 

==Other uses==
[[File:Встреча демобилизованных на минском вокзале.jpg|thumb|Residents greeting demobilized soldiers of the Red Army in Minsk, July 1945]]
In [[professional diving]], demobilization is the dismantling, packing and transport back to storage of the diving spread, and where relevant, restoring the site to initial condition. Mobilization is the converse process.<ref name="Diveworks" >{{cite web |url=https://diveworks.com.au/special-terms.pdf |title=Dive Works Special Terms and Conditions |website=diveworks.com.au |access-date=22 November 2019 |archive-date=29 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229193630/http://diveworks.com.au/special-terms.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Bluestream" >{{cite web |url=https://www.bluestreamoffshore.com/export/fe/fe8132E4liakjyhsx.pdf |title=Job title: Diving technician |website=www.bluestreamoffshore.com |access-date=22 November 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="OGP" >{{cite report |url=https://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/regulations.gov.docket.08/USCG-1998-3786-0110.pdf |title=Diving Recommended Practice |publisher=International Association of Oil & Gas Producers |work=Report No: 411 |date=June 2008 |author=OGP Diving Operations Subcommittee |access-date=2019-11-22 |archive-date=2021-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226214702/https://law.resource.org/pub/us/cfr/regulations.gov.docket.08/USCG-1998-3786-0110.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="IMCA" >{{cite book |url=https://www.oceanologyinternational.com/__novadocuments/412902?v=636459019496800000 |title=IMCA D 014: IMCA International Code of Practice for Offshore Diving |publisher=International Marine Contractors Association |date=February 2014 |edition=Rev. 2 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Demobilisation of the British Armed Forces after the Second World War]]
* [[Demobilization of United States armed forces after World War II]]
* [[Demob suit]]
* [[Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration]]
* [[Military discharge]]
* [[Social history of soldiers and veterans in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*E McGaughey, 'Will Robots Automate Your Job Away? Full Employment, Basic Income, and Economic Democracy' (2018) [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3044448 SSRN, part 3(2)]
* Sparrow, John C.  ''History of Personnel Demobilization in the United States'' (Department of the Army, 1952; not copyright) 370pp; [https://ia600205.us.archive.org/32/items/DA-Pam-20-210/AD1130597.pdf online]

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[[Category:Non-combat military operations]]
[[Category:Veterans' affairs]]
[[Category:Military veterans topics]]

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