After the Cold War. Should the military have been modernized/recapitalized while at the same time drawing down?

TSgt Scott Hurley — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:14:32 -0500

With all the that has gone on in the military today. Should the military have started modernization actions at the end of the Cold War instead of just drawing down our personnel and closing bases? I believe that we should have been doing that. It gets me, when I see in the news concerning the military after an aircraft crashing, ships having problems, equipment malfunctions (age), etc. that politicians do not seem to care. They thought at the time that we could beat anyone with what we got. That is not true. We have to be prepared for the unknown enemy. Whenever that question is asked, someone always answers with some country. And they say we can beat them with what we have. What do the rest of you say?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2014 7:25 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:25:54 -0500

TSgt Hurley,

Sorry, I must have been sleeping or kept out of the loop.

When did the Cold War end? Why didn't anyone tell me?

Who is the enemy and nature of conflict we are fighting?

My impression is that the Cold War is still very much alive.

As far as hot war we have awful lot of hi tech in the field.

Warm Regards, Sandy

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Jan 16 at 2014 8:18 PM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 20:18:36 -0500

their are allot of things that military during that period could have done. However they didn't do it because there were no wars. No signs of war were present, except for what took place on 911 and no one was paying attention to that.The current uniforms didn't exist, the stealth were still being developed in area 51 and hidden from every one, using UFO as a way to distract attention from the world. Allot was going on in that time. But what took place was not what they should have done but what they felt needed doing at the time. Downsizing, extending retirement from 20 years to 30 years and waiting to get your pension from retirement from after you retire till your in you late 60's or early 70's years of age. I guess that as a way to promote moral a certificate was awarded to those whom served during that time.I figure that the course of action that took place lead to what took place today. If the past were different I personally don't think todays armed forces would not be as it is now. certificate here's mines.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2014 8:01 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 20:01:55 -0400

1LT Sandy Annala makes a good point just because on paper the Cold War is over don't make it so. And yes we have fallen behind in modernizing our resources. Politicians get involved and the best equipment is whats not necessarily chosen. Hell the Army can't even choose a combat uniform. I believe the base closures might have been one of the biggest mistakes along with the draw down of resources of European Command.