What is biggest challenge the U.S. Military of 2030 faces?

2015-12-31T07:44:39-05:00

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!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2015 8:09 AM

2015-12-31T08:09:27-05:00

Political imbalance and all the options below to be honest.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 31 at 2015 8:34 AM

2015-12-31T08:34:59-05:00

Zombies...

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Dec 31 at 2015 8:37 AM

2015-12-31T08:37:05-05:00

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.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Dec 31 at 2015 8:54 AM

2015-12-31T08:54:33-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member The continuing major threat to the US for the forseeable future is ISIS and all its affiliated provinces. ISIS uses terror as a tactic but has evolved into a conventional force, taking and holding territory using semi mobile forces. Daesh is an ideology that has become rooted in the disaffected populations of the dictators that have been deposed recently. The problem is not merely a military one but a problem of strategic counter ideology communications strategic PSYOPS.

Another issue that needs addressing is climate change. As the climate changes and drought advances, water will become scarce in some areas and crop production will decrease. Hungry societies are unstable societies.

The global strategic situation over the next 20 years will be less stable and more demanding on our strategic resources.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Dec 31 at 2015 8:56 AM

2015-12-31T08:56:04-05:00

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.

Response by Cpl Kurt Prinz made Dec 31 at 2015 10:08 AM

2015-12-31T10:08:17-05:00

The planet will b glowing by 2030. Too many stupid people in the gene pool.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2015 11:04 AM

2015-12-31T11:04:04-05:00

I think that our biggest chalage with be economic. I think that our natonal debit will be to much for the US to handle if the feds keep spending the way that they have been.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2015 11:22 AM

2015-12-31T11:22:41-05:00

In 2030, the greatest threat to the United States will be the increasing influence of China in the South China Sea. Sure, terrorism will be an issue. However, terrorism doesn't have the potential to spark WWIII like a confrontation in the South China Sea which will be driven b China's expanding economic influence.

Terrorism concerning groups like ISIS is largely a regional issue. The denial of free passage through the South China Sea is a global issue. Everyone saying terrorism will be the major focus of 2030 should update their academic studies.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2015 11:48 AM

2015-12-31T11:48:52-05:00

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.

Response by SrA Marlin Taylor made Dec 31 at 2015 12:00 PM

2015-12-31T12:00:48-05:00

If our technology keeps changing and rapidly advancing things are going to be so different by 2030 that there's no telling what will be going on. I mean look at the differences of 2016 and 2000. Technology if not for a major worldwide disaster will keep going. I don't have any kind of a clue about war the technology advances will come from next. And it definitely will affect our military.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2015 12:26 PM

2015-12-31T12:26:39-05:00

I still see the military wasting money, spending end of year funds that are leftover buying new office furniture for the third year in a row. Meanwhile programs that desperately need that funding are doing without. What we need are leaders within the DoD who are not going to continue the same stupid practices because that's how thing were always done. We need to stop wasting money and become more responsible and efficient.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2015 12:38 PM

2015-12-31T12:38:51-05:00

I once heard it said that among the many causes of strategic failure in the latter half of the 20th Century, was a reluctance to realize that it sometimes takes 7.62...not 150KT. Perhaps we're coming close to full circle in the opposite direction...and are reluctant to admit that not every strategy begins and ends with a "minimalist" solution.

All of the threats mentioned are real...and from all aspects of manpower to national policy...I fear we are lacking.

Truly don't envy the folks following in our footsteps.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 31 at 2015 4:50 PM

2015-12-31T16:50:07-05:00

Knowing what kind of wars and threats will exist.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Dec 31 at 2015 9:56 PM

2015-12-31T21:56:05-05:00

We need a new world order.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jan 1 at 2016 10:49 AM

2016-01-01T10:49:40-05:00

2030...first reaction is electronic warfare and cyber stuff will be much more of a focus than they are now

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 1 at 2016 2:20 PM

2016-01-01T14:20:32-05:00

The military needs to be flexible to fight every type of war.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2016 8:26 AM

2016-01-04T08:26:33-05:00

lol I heard Climate Change lol anyone catch my humor yet???