In this time of unrest between Russia and Ukraine, do you think dropping our numbers to below WWII numbers is a good idea?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 22:33:49 -0500

I am interested to see how all of my peers feel about this, and what the best way forward is on the plan to cut troops.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2014 10:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 22:46:38 -0500

I think the problem is that we, as a nation, have gotten so far behind in our national debt that we need to start cutting back. Unfortunately, I don't think there will ever be an "ideal" time to trim the size of the Military, as there always seems to be something flaring up in one corner of the globe or another. I don't think it is necessarily our job to play the role of world police all the time, but if we are forced to respond with military force then it might be more difficult with a smaller military.

On the other hand, our military has become increasingly technologically advanced. We have capabilities to strike the farthest places on earth without having to put a single boot on the ground. Perhaps if military action is needed in the Ukraine, then it can be through the use of precision air strikes.

I feel like the problem we have been facing for years is that we have been fighting long, drawn out wars. Iraq lasted a long time, and now Afghanistan is the longest war in U.S. history. I think the military would be much better utilized if we were used to quickly engage and overtake our objective, then to let diplomacy figure the rest out, but that is another debate for another day... :-)

Response by SSG Oliver Mathews made Mar 5 at 2014 10:59 PM

SSG Oliver Mathews — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 22:59:40 -0500

Napolean often defeated larger Armies than his own due to a higher level of training and higher quality equipment/goods.  Just cause we get smaller doesnt mean we need to get weaker. The smaller we are the more focused we should become on training and proficiency. For perspective... an ANA Company or Kandak, dont fully recall the size of the element. Expended over 5000 rounds in an attempt to shoot a dog on the side of the road. The dog survived...

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Mar 5 at 2014 11:00 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:00:54 -0500

Its not good period, but the chance of war with russia is actually very small. To me its a bad idea because people are out of jobs and thats not good for the economy or the families of the people being downsized.

Response by TSgt Christopher D. made Mar 5 at 2014 11:18 PM

TSgt Christopher D. — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:18:01 -0500

Back in 2010, CJCS Adm. Mike Mullen said that the greatest threat to our national security was out national debt. Our national debt was not the $17 trillion plus bloated monster then that it is today.

I would that we would use the military for the purpose it was intended for in the Constitution: national defense... not protection of corporate interests, not brinksmanship, not exertion of force to achieve a political agenda, but the no-bones actual defense of this country and it's people.

I'm not sure how any overseas military effort wins in a cost-benefit analysis, given the size of our debt and annual deficits. It won't be you and I who pay these debts, much less the politicians that create them. It will be our unborn grandchildren, and their children. We're told that stealing is illegal, but we seem to have no problem at all stealing from the unborn.

Response by Cpl David Hall made Mar 6 at 2014 11:32 PM

Cpl David Hall — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 23:32:09 -0500

I don't believe it will be the next war or cold war; the reasoning why is Russia can hurt the U.S. far easier with the dumping of our debt to them and just refusing to pay loans they took out from us totaling in the billions and billions; with out a shot fired they could literally cripple our already fragile economy over night. The European countries will not side with us as Russia controls over half over there natural gas and could easily turn it off. No I think it would be best if we just kept our noses out of this one.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Aug 2 at 2014 11:55 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 23:55:50 -0400

It's foolish!

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Aug 4 at 2014 2:42 PM

SSG Mike Angelo — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:42:22 -0400

Yup...I agree on dropping the numbers and providing an employment path for our veterans coming out of Active Duty service.

Our nation cannot afford veterans coming back from war at this time. So it makes sense only to decrease the numbers considerably, until our nation can honor the promise to take care of those veterans coming back.

Currently, our nation is dependent on many non profits and a few for-profit organizations to keep those promises alive. America's generosity is great.

The VA is not consistent with those promises due to a capacity building and confidence problem.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2014 8:00 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 20:00:05 -0400

Simply put "NO".
However cutting the budget while giving corporations huge tax breaks (because they are the main supporters of both candidates) is popular among the Republican and Democratic Parties (elections are expensive when there are no campaign contribution limits). Corporations are critical in raising the hundreds of millions to run for office although I suspect there is better use for that money.
They want to say thank you to veterans without actually doing anything that could cost money. In other words saying thank you means more than acting grateful and keeping veterans with critical experience in the military, keeping salaries and benefits (that incidentally are not half of the benefits politicians enjoy like lifetime pension (earned in military after 20 years, in Congress in 4 years) and family health insurance for life (Obama Care for all politicians, None for military veterans or anyone else because that would be Communism (unless its my insurance, that a good idea, lol)) and caring for those who have returned by financially supporting the VA not just telling the VA to see more patients without hiring more providers and spending more money. Both parties are allowing the cuts and the hacking apart of the military; both.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 10:39 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 22:39:49 -0500

Foolishness at its worst! Have the politicians not learned anything? They claim to be such educated individuals, but have such memory loss it is unbelievable. I'm preaching to the choir, but look what happens when we drop our troop levels, we always end up raising them up again a few years later. And what of those captains and majors who were asked to leave the Army last year when we need them again? The cycle continues to repeat itself, it will always do so.