kams

A rather long article by Mark Thompson on current status of US Army. Being a civilian, I don't think I can make any meaningful comments on the article, but sure would love to know what you guys think.

Link to the story

Shek

The deployed Army is not broken. The Army that is stateside is broken in terms of lack of equipment and the ability to train at the higher collective level due to the lack of equipment. We're able to put together units just in time for deployment, but the surge has sapped us of a strategic reserve. However, don't equate this with the broken, hollow Army of the 1970s. Unlike then, the morale of soldiers and units is on average very high. The closer you get to the front, the higher the morale. Also, while the article alludes to some waivering of standards, this doesn't run deep into the Army, and so the quality of soldiers is still vastly above and beyond what we had in the 1970s. In the end, you've got an Army that is stretched to the maximum, a result of Rumsfeld not enlarging the Army back in 2004 when it was clear that Iraq was definitely not going to be the transformation show trophy war that he wanted.

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"So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3

Shek

I'd add one more comment to the article. If the cause of death of Private Zeimer was due to a VBIED explosion, then the amount of training he had is completely irrelevant to the fact that he died. A Staff Sergeant squad leader with twelve years of experience, multiple combat tours, several advanced military schools (Ranger or Sapper, EMT, etc.), i.e. someone who the Army has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars training, would have died just the same. Thus, the hook this author uses is a complete red herring. That isn't to dismiss the question of how much training is enough.

Are we looking for sufficient or optimal training. If basic training isn't enough, then we need to lay blame there. If collective training with the unit with whom you are going to serve with is the requirement, as the article heavily implies is the correct standard, then how can you deploy individual replacements who are going to fill the gaps in fire teams, squads, platoons, etc., when a soldier is wounded and evacuated out of theater? An impossibility if we place unrealistic goal posts on training levels.

However, irrespective of my thoughts on the issue, my condolences go out to Private Zeimer's family and friends.