Before I retired from the USAF, we had 2.1 million in uniform.
Half a million is a “Kick Me” and no money for hardware sign on America’s backside.
Yep. The military has been in decline for some time. We try to rationalize it thru better weapons, a more professional force, etc. But there is no doubt that our conventional warfare capabilities are not what they were 20 or thirty years ago. And there is also no doubt that the Chinese capabilities are increasing.
That last line should read: Half a million and no money for hardware is a “Kick Me” sign on America’s backside.