What's the most important thing the military should do while going through this downsizing period?
Downsizing
Keep the long term, big picture, most likely scenarios front and center while remembering the keys to our past success, Excellent Leadership through hard preparation, Realistic Training to Tough Standards, and at least good if not great Equipment. We have a problem with living in the past without learning from it. Trying to prepare for the future without studying history. It takes too long to adapt if we aren't flexible enough to confront all of the most likely challenges. We tend to look for the technology solution rather than focus on the human dynamic.
Downsizing has different speeds. After Vietnam in 75 people were going ever which way while the Army had this All Volunteer idea. By 76, all military academies enrolled females. Basic Training equipment changed....duffle bags came with shoulder straps instead of 1 handle. Then that incident in Korea with our 3 American officers KIA on the DMZ ... the tree incident.
Many Vietnam vets were coming back in the military because of all kinds of reasons from personal to how the economy was. Some came out of jail.
If ever that bullet comes when SMs get their pink slips. Just tell em to take and get out for a while. Down the road, after college, they can come back in. I am sure of that. It happened before.
For those who remain, get ready for lots of training, ARTEPs, and becoming a model Soldier in both garrison and field. Your whole life is going to change.
IMHO
We should be even more vigilant because we will be picking up the slack that others have left off. We will be doing not only our work, but the work of others as well; yet we will still be required to be the best military in the world, because that is our legacy. We owe it to those who bled in these same uniforms before us. We owe it to those who will wear it after us. Trying times call for people with a purpose. If you are not that person, either find your purpose, or make way so others can and look back on your service with pride because no matter what anyone else says, you still served in the best military with the best people of our age.
Good, better best. Never rest until your good is better, and your better is best.
The most important thing the military should do while downsizing is to ensure the mission is accomplished and our troops are taken care of. Those are the most important responsibilities. We need to make sure that we have enough assets to continue on and excel as the greatest fighting force the world has ever laid eyes on, and ensure that our men and women in uniform accomplishing the mission are taken care of.
Although difficult, our nation has never backed down from a challenge and will continue on making the most of available resources. American service members can make do with little to nothing and have the skills, knowledge, and will to accomplish any task at hand, no matter how difficult it may be.
The military should continue focusing on the mission and understand that our continued success lays in the hands of our highly trained forces. The military is one big family and we need to look after one another and help eachother out. Do not jeoparadize the quality of life for people in uniform, even after they conclude their service to the country. Use every and all resource to take care of them. Afterall, they are using every and all resource provided to them to take care of the country.
SSG Goehring
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google