Posted on Dec 31, 2015
What is biggest challenge the U.S. Military of 2030 faces?
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I'd love to hear the opinion of my fellow RP members.
In an era of declining military budgets but increased international incidents across the world, I'm curious to see what others may think will be our biggest challenge in the next 20 years or so.
Will there be a massive terrorist incident at home or abroad that will change the face of the Global War on Terror?
Will Russia invade or destabilize a NATO country, and will we and other NATO members come to their aid?
Will the spat over the Spratly Islands in the South China sea go hot, putting our Navy in direct conflict with a rising Naval power? What will happen to the global economy if this does come to fruition?
Do we face internal threats to our security, civil or economic?
Let's hear your thoughts!
In an era of declining military budgets but increased international incidents across the world, I'm curious to see what others may think will be our biggest challenge in the next 20 years or so.
Will there be a massive terrorist incident at home or abroad that will change the face of the Global War on Terror?
Will Russia invade or destabilize a NATO country, and will we and other NATO members come to their aid?
Will the spat over the Spratly Islands in the South China sea go hot, putting our Navy in direct conflict with a rising Naval power? What will happen to the global economy if this does come to fruition?
Do we face internal threats to our security, civil or economic?
Let's hear your thoughts!
Warfare
International Affairs
Politics
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 17
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Great question! I answered Domestic because I think a continuing challenge and threat to our way of life will come from internal budget pressures, and I can't see a reversal of current trends away from Defense and toward federalized social support services. Our DoD budget will decline while external threats multiply and Americans eat chili fries and watch reality TV.
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SFC Ronald Burris
I agree with you that Domestically we will have a lot of challenges. But, I feel first, that we are going to have issues getting people to join once they see how worthless the new Retirement System is where they will have to wait later on to get their retirement. That might not mean much to Politicians that don't have to worry about getting their big pensions when they retire since they can get their pensions after serving their short term of office as a Congressman/woman or Senator. They don't have to serve 15 or more years to get a retirement. Those that wait that long to do so are just making thousands of dollars a session attending PAC or Special Interest group luncheons conferences that require their vote. Military personnel don't have that luxury. They have to wait a specific period before they qualify for a pension and again, have to wait a long period of time before they can get it. It might not mean anything for about 10 years but when eligible personnel start getting close to retirement and then realize they won't get any retirement pay until later on in life, won't like it and pass it on to other personnel interested in going into the military. This is what I feel.
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At issue is that the world has become more and more unstable because certain powers have become unpredictable. Take Iran for example. They continue to fund and support Hezbollah as a proxy to attack Israel. They destabilize Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon as a matter of routine. Yet they fight ISIS, in league with the Russians (!), because they are good neighbors and just want to help out? Our State Department can't be serious. Let's sign a deal, then break it in a matter of days, then tout it as a major success.
Oh sure, we'd like Iran to behave responsibly, but why should they? They know darned well that we wouldn't do anything. They are taking a page out of the Russian playbook. Talk about how responsible you are while simultaneously disrupting neighbors (Ukraine, Baltic States, Georgia) and imply not so subtly that your "help" is contingent upon accepting your bad behavior elsewhere and lifting sanctions.
Clearly, it is amateur hour in Foggy Bottom.
I am not a "blame America" guy by any means, but this one is squarely the result of US policy.
So, by 2030, these chickens will come home to roost, and we will be faced with an aggressive Iran with a patron willing to deal with the devil and current allies burned by our pivots wary of whether America really stands by them. An arms race will surely occur, and a match struck in the right place will spark a war that nobody but Apocolypse-seeking fanatics wants.
Ironically, all that currently stands in their way is the dirt bags running ISIS.
Oh sure, we'd like Iran to behave responsibly, but why should they? They know darned well that we wouldn't do anything. They are taking a page out of the Russian playbook. Talk about how responsible you are while simultaneously disrupting neighbors (Ukraine, Baltic States, Georgia) and imply not so subtly that your "help" is contingent upon accepting your bad behavior elsewhere and lifting sanctions.
Clearly, it is amateur hour in Foggy Bottom.
I am not a "blame America" guy by any means, but this one is squarely the result of US policy.
So, by 2030, these chickens will come home to roost, and we will be faced with an aggressive Iran with a patron willing to deal with the devil and current allies burned by our pivots wary of whether America really stands by them. An arms race will surely occur, and a match struck in the right place will spark a war that nobody but Apocolypse-seeking fanatics wants.
Ironically, all that currently stands in their way is the dirt bags running ISIS.
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I'm gonna stray away from the given answers and say that the biggest challenge for the Army of 2030 will be daily PMCS/2404's on their Exo suits.
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