What's the most important thing the military should do while going through this downsizing period?
Well I am amazed at the responses here. Most of the response are way off, yes we need to retain our better people and yes accountability is important and yes training is lacking at times and yes or leaders need a clue sometimes but it misses the mark in all cases. We are here for just one thing and one thing only (Fighting) that is what any military is for bottom line. As a combat vet (68 - 73) I have seen what no one should and I know we can do better but it doesn't change what is coming. Looking at the conflicts of the last 25 years it is very clear what we need to make our current and future soldiers in every situation, branch, condition, location, or conflict. (Weapons)
Like I mentioned I am a combat vet from Viet Nam, I know a small force with the right weapons can do the job of a much larger force, having said that taking weapons and advancing them we can make 10 do the job of 100, and that is not an unrealistic figure either, as downsizing continues there is a greater need for more advanced weapons than ever, putting a smaller force into the field with current weapons is a guaranteed way to lose troops, yes todays items are good but I know we can do better and it wont take much to make what we have much better, It will do more than just make us a better fighting force but it will make the soldiers in the field no matter what the job more likely to come back home. Remember George Patton once said you don't win wars by dying for your country you win them by making the other guy die for his. Those words are so true and anyone who thinks that is not relevant is nuts. Remember what the job of a soldier is and why he exists, help our smaller force do a better job help the smaller force come home safe and make his job more effective as that will cure our current items of concern ( smaller forces due to smaller budgets) (needing to send less in harms way)(we as former vets need to help the ones there now in any way we can and giving them our experience and knowledge is the most important thing we can give we cant short change them by reducing men and not be able to bring them home because they did not have enough people) make them unbeatable with any amount and it can be done we have the ability we only need the drive and the will. Thank You
A more promising and moral approach would be for natural attrition to occur.
down sizing seems to weaken the economy they down size and then the vets have no jobs to go to and allot end up on the streets and then we as Veterans and other agency's try to find ways to get them off the streets and jobs for them but i think when the economy is down that veterans suffer the most and to weaken our troops numbers makes no sense to me then they close bases as well and the land sits there forever and that is just a waste in my mind as well. keep bases open keep the troops we have in already if they want to down size make a plan of what recruits need to get into the service of there choice.