UGH!
“We are putting more strains on the all-volunteer force than it was ever designed to bear,” Army Lt. Col. John Nagl, a prominent counterinsurgency expert, said at a panel discussion in Washington on Tuesday to announce the results of the survey.
What has happened to our Officers? I’m just asking, because sheesh! I doubt the officers of our military during WWII hemmed and hawed about our troops being stretched “dangerously thin.” John Wayne was TOUGH. He didn’t take any guff from anyone. I have a feeling Patton would throw these guys in the brig for whining.
Our officers during WWII had 6 million draftees to work with. The only time Patton went to war with a volunteer Army was in Mexico chasing Pancho Villa.
Speaking of volunteers . . .
That’s true, but I doubt he would have been whining to the press either. Then again, these guys may not actually be doing that either. (And of course, the media at the time of Patton actually wanted us to win – can you imagine??) The enemedia is expert at twisting the words of the good guys. Do you think they are truly concerned, or do you think the press is blowing it out of proportion?
Of course they’re blowing it out of proportion. That’s what sells.
Nagl’s point is that the All Volunteer Army Clinton left us with doesn’t have enough soldiers in it. Takes awhile to grow an Army. And more people without the expensive weapons systems they need to win wars are of limited utility. Politicians will pay for more soldiers but skimp on the equipment.
I’ve been reading that the branches have all met their recruiting goals. Do these goals need to be set higher, or do you believe that the levels are good? I’ve also heard a lot of people saying that we don’t need as many soldiers because of today’s technology. What are your thoughts on that?
How many soldiers and Marines do we need?
Depends on what we expect them to do.
That’s a question of Grand Strategy that can’t be addressed until after the next election. The American people’s elected representatives must decide what capabilities they will fund.
I’d like to see us get back to the same end strength we had in 1991.
We don’t need as many soldiers and Marines if we don’t expect to do as much as we’re doing now.
Smaller units nowadays have the kenetic frepower of larger units, but that doesn’t help in Irregular Warfare