Did you Know Under Obama, Our Military’s Strength Has Significantly Decreased?

"The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war". This phrase was echoed throughout my enlistment. Our military is no longer a society of professionals, kept on the razor sharp edge, ready and willing to take it to the enemy, foreign or domestic. We have become a lack luster band that is putting band aid fixes on aged equipment, just to try to make the missions happen. Due in part, to the new generation, and in part to the lack of benefits. We no longer keep the ones that shine with pride, drive and desire. They move on. We end up with the ones that are here for a paycheck, because its easy, and they are not held to task.

We are almost eight years into a democratic administration. As often happens with liberal leadership the military is reduced, cut back, often decimated compared to required world wide duties. As often happens, many pentagon era jump on the bandwagon agreeing with and approving of these measures. All I can say is vote republican. If this is a false impression I've gathered after my first day on active duty receiving a 14% raise from President Ronald Reagan 35 years ago and seeing the support of the military go up and down, please enlighten me.

I am not as concerned about the shrinkage in military manpower as I am concerned about the loss of a healthy economic base needed to support military readiness and operations. We need another Calvin Coolidge-like President to cut the government and taxes in half. The economy would quickly recover and we would be better able to field any military force needed to meet any threat.

I realize our nations military and equipment, has cut back. But, I'm more concerned how these cuts affect our service men and women, serving at this moment. It makes U.S. citizens worry a little bit, because, I assume, they don't really understand the situation, or they don't care as long as it's not affecting them personally yet. But, it does affect our service members. They're the ones who will have to control the fires without much up to date equipment. I assume that, because several RP members, in the military, have expressed those sentiments. We're the strength of this Nation, despite politics and politicians. I do not understand who gives our POTUS the information which he is advised to act on. All of this China, Russian, North Korean, Iran, Afghanistan, talk, seems to me were headed for another Cold War. I might be spitting out of the wrong side of my mouth, but that's the way I see it.

Each time we go through contraction we loose valuable leadership and knowledge. There is learned knowledge that cannot be replaced.

Meh. I remember the RIF in the early '90s...

http://articles.latimes.com/1991-02-01/news/mn-362_1_gulf-war

I should hope so! We've become so bloated due to years of war. We compensated for quality with quantity, and unless we find someone else to "bring freedom", now we have to fix it.

This is a wake up call for our nation!

Elections have consequences.

Lets be frank about our fiscal condition, since Reagan, we have deficit spent like there was no tomorrow. We are trillions of dollars in debt, have no plan to repay that debt. We watched the Soviet Empire collapse under the weight of that debt. We spend in excess of how much of our GDP on Defense? 3.5 % or roughly 21% of Federal spending or $575 Billion Dollars. That equates to 1 out of 5 dollars goes to defense. Also in comparison is what we spend on welfare also around 3%. Now look at future spending projections, defense is projected to go up, and welfare is anticipated to go down to 2.66% of GDP.

In comparison I know people are going to say we should cut back foreign aid , which is .03% of GDP.

Now also look at what each of the last two presidents have spent:
Recent US Federal Deficit Numbers

Obama Deficits
FY 2016*: $474 bln
FY 2015*: $583 bln
FY 2014: $483 bln
FY 2013: $680 bln
FY 2012: $1,087 bln
FY 2011: $1,300 bln
FY 2010: $1,294 bln

Bush Deficits
FY 2009†: $1,413 bln
FY 2008: $458 bln
FY 2007: $161 bln
FY 2006: $248 bln
FY 2005: $318 bln

This does not include the existing budget deficit from the past that continues to build up interest. So I ask do we need to spend more on defense or be more practical about what we buy?

For the record I have included sources so you can reference it.

http://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/Documents/defbudget/fy2015/FY15_Green_Book.pdf

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/federal_deficit_chart.html

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/defense_spending