What's the most important thing the military should do while going through this downsizing period? As the military enters a significant downsizing period, it's important to talk through relevant issues and solutions. Enter your response below, and if it gets the most Up votes, you win a free iPad Mini and we will personally deliver your thoughts to our Advisory Board, which includes retired Generals George Casey and Norton Schwartz, the recent Chiefs of Staff of the Army and Air Force, respectively. Tip: Get all your friends to vote Up your response by the end of the contest on Oct 7, 2013.

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

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Posted 11 y ago

Continue to train with same intensity as if we were still in the middle of OIF and OEF. George Washington said to preserve peace, we must train and be always ready for war.

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LTC John Campbell

Posted 11 y ago

I have seen this "movie" before, and here is a recommendation. Before memories get faded, and people leave, and combat veterans become fewer and fewer in the Active ranks, document unit and individual lessons learned (use JLLS or some other data capturing platform); before anyone ETS's make them do an "exit interview". I now work as an old "gray beard" contractor in a doctrine office, and it is harder and harder to capture best practices when the subject matter experts disappear. Remember, when the historical cycle comes around again, and it will, the next generation will need our advice, the best way to give advice to a future generation is to write it down now while we remember.

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LTC John Campbell

11 y

Let's start a TTP thread:

-550 cord with a knot tied in it will serve as a field-expedient bore brush

-Use a number 2 lead pencil to lubricate a rifle bolt in the desert, don't use oil

-Blouse your boots with a Hertz 3-1 collar to keep ticks off your legs...don't let it touch your skin

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SGT (Join to see)

Posted 11 y ago

retain a clear chain of command and NCO support channel

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MG Peter Bosse

Posted 11 y ago

Leadership development is job 1. During a similar downsizing between WWI and WWII, the Army invested in developing leaders by sending them to schools, turning them into instructors and focusing on training. This era, spearheaded by the leadership of CSA GEN Marshall, produced leaders like Eisenhower, Bradley and Patton to name a few. As we face similar constraints now, we must prepare the next generation of adaptive and flexible leaders who will stand ready to act when the inevitable next conflict occurs.

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SSG Matthew Thomas

Posted 11 y ago

Retain the individuals that emulate the concepts inherent in Military life, Brotherhood, selfless service, and integrity. Cut lose the dead weight of the posers who only want to say they were in the military. Being a military leader is the hardest but most fulfilling 









<p class="MsoNormal">occupation anyone can ever do.</p>

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CPT (Join to see)

Posted 11 y ago

Enforce the standard. When I went to LDAC in 2011, we were told that the army cutting down will make camp harder. It ended up being true because a lot of cadets failed the PT test and a lot of cadets could not pass night/day land navigation. Yet, some of those are now active duty officers who got their first branch choice???? How does that make sense during a draw down. They need to enforce the standard and stick to the standard. If they cant meet the standard, then send them home.

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SGT Leigh Barton

Posted 11 y ago

Something came to mind while reading the responses here. I was reminded of the Science Fiction movie Starship Troopers. Although not particularly fond of the movie since I read the book long before it's release, and found the lack of attention to detail disappointing, it occurs to me that differentiating career soldiers from term soldiers could be an asset in determining retention desirability. The soldier that considers military service a valid career, not some REMF just marking time. In looking for examples of this the British Army has some potentially useful assets in this respect, and should be examined for possible contributions in management of personnel actions to improve the ultimate outcome of "sequestration". We should have a proper set of guidelines in place for resuming a peacetime posture just as certainly as the set of guidelines for real world deployments. Unless we are planning on staying permanently at war. Sooner or later we have to stand down from any deployment.

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LtCol (Join to see)

Posted 11 y ago

Actually use the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) effectively. There are (likely) a whole lot of redundancies across the services. This supposition is probably most true, in the military equipment realm.

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PO1 Gabriel Gonzales

Posted 11 y ago

Looking for a mechanical veteran with 3 to 5 yrs experience supervisor for a Houston location? message me for details.

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SSG Mark Jordan

Posted 11 y ago

I think during the downsizing they should take a look at is one has deployed or not.

The militaries job is to train and go to war. I think if your a certain rank and have not you need to go. Look at if you were avoiding deploying on purpose. It is different is your were not give the chance to go like a lot of medical fields . How can people can

warriors to go to war when they have not been. Also I really hope that all the experience doesn't give way to the downsize

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CPT (Join to see)

11 y

SSG Jordan,

As an Army, how do we differentiate between those who hid out and those who were not deployed but willing? It's impossible to tell. I am a slick sleeve, but I have volunteered every chance I have been given. I know a few who have hidden out, but it would be impossible to prove it outside of using hearsay. I agree that the experience gained will be key in maintaining an Army that is prepared for war and able to adapt TTP's, Regulations, and Force Development based on the lessons learned and shaping the Army we are to be given at the end of this. However, there are still those who can contribute and are willing to do so, despite this valuable experience.

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

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