Top General Worries U.S. Army Getting Too Small

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire blog ^ | October 13, 2014 | Julian E. Barnes

[2ndDivisionVet]

The Army’s top general said Monday that an increase in threats around the world requires that the U.S. rethink plans to cut the size of the American military’s ground force.

The Army agreed – reluctantly — to cut the size of its force to 490,000 under the budget reductions originally approved in 2011. But as a result of subsequent White House-Congress spending battles and military budget reviews, Pentagon leaders said the Army has had to make plans to shrink even further, to 450,000 or even 420,000.

But Gen. Ray Odierno, the chief of staff of the Army, said Monday that even 490,000 may be too small, given recent events such as the rise of militants fighting for Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and Moscow’s moves in Eastern Europe....

[ex91B10]

That’s my point.

[ansel12]

I didn’t see much difference between draftees and RA., but I would take a male draftee over the females that we are taking in their place today.

[ansel12]

Under Reagan we had about 450,000 troops in NATO, today we only have about 67,000 or fewer.

You seem to be allied with the Russian soldier you pinged.

[Let's Roll]

“The Obungler will deploy them alright, to be infected with ebola.”

And to be out of the country at a time when their votes might make a difference in specific elections.

Sending troops to Africa all round winner for obola.

[ansel12]

[Mears]

Those were my contemporaries.

They all went into the service.

.

[ansel12]

I don’t know what that means, I get the contemporaries part, but not the part about they all went into the service.

[Conan the Librarian]

Not the Russians

http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/The-Incredible-Shrinking-Russian-Army-10-10-2014.asp

The Chinese on the other hand.....

[Mears]

“I don’t know what that means, I get the contemporaries part, but not the part about they all went into the service.”

I’m having great trouble with the clarity of my posts today——guess it’s time for a break. :-)

I meant all of the guys of my generation went into the service.

.

[RobinOfKingston]

This old E-5 is worried about that, too.

[Billthedrill]

Right-sizing the military is not a mysterious process, but it is one that requires a statement of what you intend to do with it, and that appears to be quite outside the interest of the sitting administration. This question is as old as the country - in the Federalist #46, Madison stated the rough calculation of the time:

The highest number to which, according to the best computation, a standing army can be carried in any country, does not exceed one hundredth part of the whole number of souls; or one twenty-fifth part of the number able to bear arms.

That would yield a military of about 3.2 million - its actual current size is 1.4 million, with a reserve of some 800,000 SOURCE. I wouldn't suggest that a 230-year-old estimate on the part of a political theorist is workable for today's world, but it is interesting that it was promoted by one so vociferously opposed to any standing army at all. Jemmy would consider us undermanned by his standards but I doubt he'd be all that unhappy about it.

But our current world commitments are far greater than in Madison's world (in fact I'm not sure he'd believe it if we told him. I'm not sure I believe it myself.) But with that increase in mission has NOT come an increased sense of definition - it bloated, it blurred, and now there isn't really anyone in office who has given it the consideration it deserves.

[Melian]

Obama’s whole purpose has been to overwhelm the system: Overwhelm the economy with aid to other countries, huge numbers of needy illegal aliens, and punishment for business. Overwhelm the health care system with bureaucracy and huge numbers of needy illegal aliens. Overwhelm the military by filling it with illegals who have no real allegiance to our country and put weapons in their hands. Overwhelm the middle class by taxing them beyond reason and nullifying their cherished institutions. Overwhelm homeland security by inviting huge numbers of illegal aliens to flood our borders and camouflage the influx of terrorists masquerading as Mexicans. Overwhelm our police by inciting race hatred and anarchy.

Now he will overwhelm all systems by importing ebola, using our soldiers as incubators, and transportation, education, and civic functioning will grind to a halt.