As Army Shrinks, Milley Considers Ways to Regenerate Force! Your Thoughts?

SGT Larry Prentice — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:14:00 -0500

http://www.armytimes.com/story/defense/land/2015/12/14/army-shrinks-milley-considers-ways-regenerate-force/77308854/

As Army Shrinks, Milley Considers Ways to Regenerate Force

The US Army chief of staff is looking at how the service might quickly regenerate at a time when it is rapidly shrinking.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2015 10:39 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 22:39:30 -0500

It's good that somebody is considering the ramifications of downsizing, however we always have risen to the occasion, and I believe that we will in the future. The price is in blood, though. How many GIs died in Korea, because the post WWII Army was so weakened?

I'm not sure about the idea of having Active troops fall under NG command? Feel that wounded pride would foul that up too badly.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2015 11:20 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 23:20:36 -0500

I wonder how that increase in the number of annual training days would go over with families. I figure most national guard soldiers join the guard for a reason, so that they don't have to be away from their families for that long. I know a good handful of soldiers in my unit who would have serious issues being away from their families at training for 100 days out of the year. Not only that , but how would we maintain civilian jobs if we have to explain to our bosses why we are gone for 60+ days ? It's already incredibly difficult with the 30 we have now.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2015 11:50 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 23:50:44 -0500

Attrition is already ridiculous in our state, I can't imagine this helping matters any.
Civilian employers can't be happy about this......

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 12:10 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:10:05 -0500

There is a lot going on here. The Guard has always been there to supplement the Army while it builds it numbers up when ready. The issue we have had in the past with the Guard is the time for the mobilization. Sometimes it can take up to 3 months just to get ready to deploy. We are only allowed to be on orders for a year. So that only means 8 months in Country if you include the one month Demob. If units are more prepared then it wouldn't take that. I am just curious as to how a soldier can put in 100 days of training in a year while maintaining a civilian career. I just don't see it really happening. I do like the idea of putting Active Duty units mixed in with Guard Units. I think it would bring a great dynamic to the National Guard.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Dec 15 at 2015 12:48 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:48:18 -0500

Good luck with that. It will be critical to have plans ready as soon as this POTUS is gone.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 12:51 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 00:51:19 -0500

100 training days for Guard/Reserve soldiers? I'm interested in seeing how they plan to make that practical. All in all though, I'm very excited to see all the new opportunities they have planned for the reserve component.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 6:47 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 06:47:47 -0500

100 days of training for the reserve components means more SHARP training like Active Duty, have fun with that

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 7:27 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 07:27:09 -0500

I think that doubling or quadrupling the Guards training time will definitely assist in the goal of down sizing the army. Civilian career being only part of the issue, most guard members join because they want to live a life outside of the military while still serving their country. My experiences have only been with the Red Bull but with our "39" day a year training we sure seem to be able to complete the task at hand just fine, both at home and overseas. I could see maybe another weekend or two, but you add a month or more on to our training time for the year and I know plenty of people who will do whatever they can to help downsize the army.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2015 10:13 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 10:13:52 -0500

I think it's an excellent idea. Why not we could move past basic level tasks. But on the flip side more time for sharp power points. 100 days a year breaks down to 8 days a month. Now that's not taking AT into account.

But hell I'm good with it. I don't like my job anyways.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2015 2:08 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 14:08:36 -0500

While I enthusiastically support GEN Milley's idea of using the Guard to supplement the Active compo and ramping up our OPTEMPO to do so, the only way I see this plan working out would be periodic one year T10 tours in AD units. 60-100 days of IDT per year would be difficult for most Guardsmen to pull off: that's 5-8 days (and a few 9's) a month. And there's no guarantee that additional training would be realistic or relevant, unless we are embedded in JRTC rotations.