U.S. Army Pressed To Justify Size

[luckymacy]

Congress Questions Number of Troops, Force Mix

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5883557&c=FEA&s=CVS

With the talk about AF and Navy cutting back (especially AF lately), I guess stories like this about Army are predictable. Army ROTC seemed relatively generous this year compared to AF and Navy but I an guessing it's headed for some stormy weather too over the next few years - unless we all of a sudden need boots on the ground all over some new area like Africa to protect our 'interests'.

And with that note, I find it interesting that Gates himself is flying to Stuttgart Germany and will attend the change of command ceremony today for the U.S. Africa Command and then continue on to Brussels to attend a meeting of NATO defense ministers. No fly zone coming soon to another Oil based economy country not near you???

 

[MemberLG]

The Congress is not asking right questions, the question Congress should be asking is how the Army is utilizing it's manpower.

Few things

- # of personnel assigned at Corps or higher HQs
- # of soldiers performing non soldier function - true story, when I was in Iraq, 2007-2008, in my base complex, there was a quartermaster detachement with soldiers that were fixing ACUs. It was impressive, a M249 SAW lean againt a sewing machine.

Like to quote my favoriate book, Starship Trooper, something along the line "everybody fights from a general to a cook."

As for all new equipment requirements, someone else to validate the threat and requirements.

 

[scoutpilot]

The Congress is not asking right questions, the question Congress should be asking is how the Army is utilizing it's manpower.

Few things

- # of personnel assigned at Corps or higher HQs
- # of soldiers performing non soldier function - true story, when I was in Iraq, 2007-2008, in my base complex, there was a quartermaster detachement with soldiers that were fixing ACUs. It was impressive, a M249 SAW lean againt a sewing machine.

Like to quote my favoriate book, Starship Trooper, something along the line "everybody fights from a general to a cook."

As for all new equipment requirements, someone else to validate the threat and requirements.

Except that clothing repair is an MOS task for some 92-series soldiers. Just like we have laundry platoons and mail platoons and all that jazz.

 

[MemberLG]

Except that clothing repair is an MOS task for some 92-series soldiers. Just like we have laundry platoons and mail platoons and all that jazz.

Don't disagree, but the question I didn't ask is clothing repair a valid MOS task in today's operating environment? I know force structure changes take forever and perhaps the force stucture changes should happen a lot quicker. I don't know the answer and just using clothing repair as an example.