Interesting to see this. This concept is one I have been trying to research recently. Is Iraq really wearing down our military. While being at war now for 5 years in Iraq and before that in Afghanistan certainly has a toll, I want to learn to what extent this has occurred. According to anti-war liberals, the Army is broken, but they are not usually the best source for this information.
I’m sure the strain on families and loved ones is incalculable. Our troops’ courage, determination, sacrifices, and successes are the basis for our freedom and safety, and we will never forget. May God bless them and their families, and keep them safe.
I can’t speak to the personnel issue but from what I hear the equipment is getting worn down. We should expect to buy a lot of new hardware to re-equip the troops in the next few years.
The exact opposite.
There is now an entire generation of young officers both in active duty and in the reserves who have real, intensive and modern battlefield experience.
The expended hardware is replaceable and will be replaced.
That's not a concern.
You can buy APVs whenever you need them. You cannot buy officers who know how to lead, fight, adapt and win.
I spent 6 months in Afghanistan working with the Army. Most are exhausted by the constant deployments. There aren’t many junior officers planning on staying in for a career. They don’t know why their lives are to be ruined for 5-10 years while most of America parties on.
Yes, we need to increase the size of the Army. Period.
There are soldiers who have deployed 5 times in the past eight years. (Macedonia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, OIF 1, OIF 2.) The current deployment schedule is 15 months downrange, 1 year at home - 2 months of which are either debrief or windup for the next deployment. That's not an easy optempo to maintain. Soldiers are seeing the strain in their families.