[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

The problem isn't the number of troops, it's the grunt/REMF ratio that's all out of whack. In Iraq, the grunt/REMF ratio is as high as 1:70. That's 70 freakin' REMFs for every grunt that goes outside the wire. That's just totally unacceptable. A more appropriate ratio is 1:14. Here at Bagram AB, Afghanistan you can't help but trip over all the army guys on base every day. I don't even go to lunch because the lines are so long even with a 2.5 hour window. I don't know what they all do, but they certainly don't seem to go outside the wire. The army needs to streamline its operations so a greater proportion of the force is actual infantry.

Ding, Ding, Ding!!! We have a winner here folks!

This is the problem, and it's existence is purely political.

FACT: The entire US Military has today more flag officers (that's Generals and Admirals, people) with a force structure of less than 1,000,000 than it did during WWII with 13 Million men in uniform. Why, in the age of desktop computers that can contain databases for the entire planet, do we need a logistical and command tail that large?

FACT: The excercise in Somolia detailed in Blackhawk Down had 12 general officers in theatre for 2,400 troops, only 1,200 of those being war fighters. The rest were "ash and trash troops" Hell, that's a small Colonel's command. What are Captains doing these days, Playing Corporal of the Guard?

Independent brigades??? that looks as if it's a plan to justify the existence of some more brigadier generals...must be a lot of colonels on the promotion lists and no slots for them.

[xzins]

Here are some of the realities that face us that are asked in these points:

1. Flag Officers. Many don't know that the pay of military members is tied to the pay of congressmen. No member of the military can make as much as a congressman. Therefore, they have to make less graduated down through some 24 ranks to private. Because of this, you have top-rate executives controlling billions in assets and managing world events who could be making six figures in the private world making a little bit more than a Wal-Mart store manager makes. I had a deputy group commander depart for the civilian world (a LTC) and he immediately began making 150 grand....more than a congressman at the time.

How does the military compensate? They can't give raises so they give promotions. They rely on extremely patriot but extremely qualified leaders to balance the low pay of a general with the extreme need of a nation.

2. Our company grade officers typically are the proud graduates of some university and probably some graduate school. Many have math, science type degrees and have extremely high technical skills. My son will graduate soon with an extremely high GPA in a special technology field....the salaries for newbies ranges from 60-80 to start. The army offers a new 2d Lieutenant about 35. Hmmmm...

3. Tooth to tail. Many also don't realize that the Army is the both the nations logistical and engineering firm. (Until there's a hurricane, that is.) Ever hear of flood control by the "Army Corps of Engineers?"

In any case, the Marines are specifically designed to be logistics light because typically, they are to be used no more than 50 miles from the coast. When they go more, what logistics arm to they rely upon....you guessed it...the US Army. Whose bulldozers make Air Force runways? Whose schools train Marine tankers?

And what does it truly take to move 5000 warriors across 2000 miles of terrain. (Ask Hitler about Stalingrad...it ain't easy.)

If one tank has a 500 gallon fuel capcity and gets gallons per mile instead of miles per gallon, then how many miles away from your tanks do you want your refuelers?

Then add in medical, beans, bullets, personal, mail, police, aviation, etc.

The whole point of any Army is that it must move huge distances with massive support to both conquer and occupy.

I think the current tooth to tail is about as suggested: 1 to 14 depending on whom you classify as warriors and who you classify as support.