The "peace dividend" ain't paying dividneds any more. We need 5 more divisions. Period. End of story. The democrats and Americans want to sacrifice? Well they can sacrifice by paying the Regular Army guys with good wages and a return to the old GI bill and by cutting spending on illegals and shirkers.
The shortsightedness exhibited by Bush Sr and the military hatred by Clinton resulted in an Army the size of our 1940 version. And we all know what happened shortly thereafter. Now history has repeated itself, with no corresponding increase in the military size. So yes, the Army is near the breaking point in many areas, and only a sizable increase, several divisions at a minimum, will bring any relief. The American people had the will after 9/11 but not now I fear.
We are very fortunate Iran hasnt invaded a neighbor and North Korea has held back also. There is little Army left to fight them and in Iraq too.
Only 5? We probably need at least 10 more divisions, not tot mention a few more MEFs.
Additional steps:
1. Go back to the ~1960 distribution of GDP - ~7% on Military / ~3.5 % on Social Programs instead of the current ~7% on Social Prgrams and 3.5% on the military
2. Eliminate the "no G.I." GI Bill - i.e. if you want tax payer money for college, you earn it up front with service.
3. Eliminate welfare for men between 18 and 40.
How large is an Army division? How much equipment does it have (tanks, artillery, trucks, etc.)? How many troops (officers and enlisted)? It is my belief that America is going to need a 2 - 4 million man army to meet our defense needs in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and now for the first time in many decades Latin America. I expect hell to break loose in 5 to 10 years. Our enemies have been testing our defenses lately.
I'm not kidding people. I want to go, we want to go. I'd sign a waver, I don't care. If they need troops I can still do the job. I'm a good doc, and I always have been, and I can still be a good Ranger.
I get so sick of these assholes making armchair general decisions in some newsroom. I've been there, I've done it! Let's get this thing over with....NOW, before the politicians cluster f*#k this thing into a defeat (just like the Nam)!
Sir, I volunteer Sir!
The low wages paid to the grunts that take the hot lead has always bothered my conscience, now that you mention it. Tax the "rich" to raise their pay - substantially. There I said it. I have never minded writing checks to the IRS, hard as that may be to believe.
We still have 72,000 soldiers in Germany, compared to 99,000 soldiers in Iraq.
I know where I would hunt.
There is never a "peace dividend." Something always comes along after all these so called cuts and we pay for it. Many of us felt after Gulf War I when the cuts started, and they started sending troops home to the USA and not back to Germany and cutting divisions, that it was a very bad move. We felt that at some point, sooner or later, we were going to pay for it. And, we have. We have over extended our people, they are doing long deployments without enough time to refit and rest up. Some on 3d or 4th tours to Iraq. EVERYTIME we cut forces and equipment, it costs more to bring it all back when we need it again. The so called LEADERSHIP in D.C. continue to make the same mistakes, decade after decade. They just never, ever learn.
My company in basic was one of the last to get the old GI Bill. It saved my hide during the 1982 recession. I was able to go back to school and work for the VA on a work study program and a local National Cemetery.
If anybody wants the number on past active duty End Troop Strengths as far back as 1998 I have them. The truth is we're operating on a 1996 level. The troops aren't gonna hold up to much more nor will the equipment at the current rate of deployments. The GOP congress ignored the problem for 10 years and the DEM's most likely won't do us any better either.
Now, what happens if Iran or North Korea decide to move???