What's the most important thing the military should do while going through this downsizing period?

Less spending on missles and 'projects'.  More investment in people and 'mental health'.  Increase standards to meet the needs of each professional branch while holding current rank and file accountable to reach standards.  Stop bonuses and incentives for new soldiers to enlist and focus on the current staff for incentives and bonuses.  Fix the damn backlog of veterans claims before it really starts to look bad on the entire military and government agencies.

First to cut government spending release a majority of da civilians, giving sm the jobs to do by retaining the best qualified soldier for the job.  Second give everybody in the military a week to opt out of their contract if they want out let them go. Change the way med boards are held we have soldiers getting over on the system which is costing more money to tax payers and increasing spending in the govt.  last but not least cut the amount of time a person can stay in the military instead of 32 years cut it to 22 regardless of rank and or position.

Train more Special Forces

Pull our forces back to protect our own borders and not spend as much time being the worlds police force

We should pull our troops back to the US and protect our own borders. We don't always have to be the worlds police force.

The NCO's are the backbone of the military and without their guidance the junior officers would only cause more havoc and maybe even the death or their people on the battlefield the NCO'S are the ones that the junior enlisted and even juniior officers look to for assurance and the senior officers even want the input from the NCO.S on possible senarios of battlefield operations ei Captains and Majors look to the NCO's to take charge and lead the troops and try to keep the junior officers out of trouble.

I have the biased perspective that the Military's role in US Society is first and foremost- an Industry, second- a conduit for political redistribution of National Budget, and lastly sustaining the work force (recruiting, training/support, and veteran entitlements). It isn't an issue of agreeing with this - it is just this is my observered priority of influence on issues/decisions concerning the Military. That being said, my recommendations on strategic focus areas during this downsizing period are: One, focus on maintaining capability versus institutions. Although this is a bit abstract, history has demonstrated that in these times the leadership focus is on maintaining status quo institutions and norms, instead of truly focusing on the future challenges and tailoring the force in this regard. This is a good formula to motivate the best folks to get out and kill innovation and initiative taking. Second, closely look at lessons learned from the past 10-years or so and "design" a relatively, rapidly scalable force that better incorporates all key participants (Active Duty, Reserves, Guard, Government Civilians, and yes, Contractors). The downsizing trend will emphasize training and exercise around Active Duty components - not train as we fight, i.e., an aggregation of the disparate mob. Key emphasis on sustainable scalability, i.e., avoid defacto forces service initiatives like chronic Stop-loss. Finally, institute a strategic focus to align with / integrate with US Society. The lack of mandatory National Service (DRAFT) has really isolated the majority of the US Public from the challenges of military service. As folks are enduring hardship and getting killed and wounded abroad today - the average American is more concerned about what's on TV. Consider the US Government going into a work-stoppage when we are obviously engaged in conflict abroad - it doesn't matter what side of the political issues your values align with, the representatives of our Society, i.e., US society, have prioritized everything but the lives of folks we have committed to conflict for reasons folks have forgotten and/or no longer appreciate. Anyways, this outreach may range for ensuring all installations have community outreach programs and events, increasing ROTC/JROTC, expanding roles of recruiters to particpate deeper in local communities. For example, as a Civilian, some of my business associates (real Civilians) particpated in a Program at Fort Gordon that allowed folks off the street to play soldier for 36-hours or so. They were given an active duty sponsors, equipped, received weapons orientation and some rudimentary training, and conducted a simple mission (FOB ops and some patrolling, etc). I can offer my business associates were profoundly impacted by this experience and their appreciation of the Military life enhanced. I also think some type of support for local Veteran's Groups - helping Veterans organize so we can advocate and represent the military values and experience to the general population by leading by example. These recommended focus areas proactively address areas where I think the military tends to fail during these moments in history.

Remain true to its core values and don't give in to political correctness.  Maintain the moral courage to always do the right thing, no matter the political climate.  I see too many examples of service members "taking their packs off".

First thing first, you weed out the ones who cant pass tape, pt test, drug tests (if you've ever failed one goodbye) the ones with with way too many article 15s.  Then you conduct job testing see who knows how to even do their job there are many great NCOs who know nothing about their job and many that should be NCOs that aren't you will be surprised at these results.  Next change the age of enlistment to 21 there are so many that are mentally mature enough for the military that won't solve the problem but with at least cut it in half maybe more.  Then after all that straight up ask who doesn't want to be there and send em home early honorable discharge and bar them re enlistment or start with those 6 months or year from ETS see if they want out early.  The next step is better screening before you let them in give them a PT Test you fail come back in 30 days see if you pass it then.  If someone has a DUI or multiple arrests the military isn't going to straighten them out anything more than a traffic ticket see you later.  Dont start looking for reasons to kick people out I have seen that more times than I wanted to good soldiers turn to crap because some NCO has a grudge against them or they got into a little trouble as a private there are plenty of standards the army has that people cant of wont live up to you will let go more than you need to by cutting people who dont measure up to the few things I've said.  Go with the obvious you cant go wrong.