Where do you see the US military in 2025?

2015-12-28T19:00:19-05:00

Where do my fellow RP brothers and sisters stand on our future

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Dec 28 at 2015 7:06 PM

2015-12-28T19:06:41-05:00

More techology

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Dec 28 at 2015 7:08 PM

2015-12-28T19:08:25-05:00

Back in the Middle East, this time Syria as well... Afghanistan will likely see us return in force as well, unfortunately.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 7:09 PM

2015-12-28T19:09:56-05:00

Trick question SFC Jeffrey Couch Look at DS/DS, and right after....Drawdown and the famous last words..."No more Task Force Smith's".
History repeats itself. We'll be locked in to something. Undermanned, under equipped, and jumping thru hoops to get back up to speed.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Dec 28 at 2015 7:12 PM

2015-12-28T19:12:12-05:00

SFC Jeffrey Couch Butt deep in excrement.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Dec 28 at 2015 7:14 PM

2015-12-28T19:14:17-05:00

SFC Jeffrey Couch I view the duture as one with more technology assuming combat roles, robotics and more surveillance and observation platforms for C4ISR. Fewer troops performing combat roles.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 28 at 2015 7:28 PM

2015-12-28T19:28:10-05:00

I hope an AAR on Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria is done. We have CICs who are more prudent about war. We will have new technology at a steep price. We will be weary about China's and Russia's imperial motivations.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 7:32 PM

2015-12-28T19:32:53-05:00

So many factors in that I don't even know how to predict. If we continue the trend more technology and more political correctness. Depending on elections and foreign actions we could bounce back to higher numbers and be involved in another conflict. If Russia/China keeps on cold / proxy wars in the future.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 28 at 2015 7:45 PM

2015-12-28T19:45:16-05:00

I'm not as concerned with troop cuts and draw downs as others seem to be. The problem is that this Administration couldn't (or wouldn't) defend America if it had a 10 million man Army. This economy couldn't support deployment of its existing naval and air warfare assets. They're as good as cut back and drawn down already. Beyond and above all that, We the People are losing our fighting spirit. Can you imagine the children we see on American campuses crying for "safe places" storming the beaches of Normandy? Fighting to free Kuwait? Slogging through the rice paddies and jungles of Vietnam? Could you even imagine them supporting any warlike effort even to protect themselves from terrorism? I can't...

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 7:45 PM

2015-12-28T19:45:27-05:00

I believe the path should be as follows: about 50,000-100,000, mostly enlisted but also officers in all services will be trained/licensed to fly drones, including the ones underwater. Add another 100,000-200,000 specialized in conducting EW and network warfare. Only Congress can derail this scenario insisting on producing four-man tank junk and maintaining human "drivers" in everything that can work independently (to a point). There may be a problem of the credentialed force able to meet and maintain personal fitness. This would require some changes in Middle and HS education system.

Response by MAJ Christopher Daily made Dec 28 at 2015 7:51 PM

2015-12-28T19:51:44-05:00

In my rear view mirror.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 28 at 2015 8:06 PM

2015-12-28T20:06:19-05:00

It will all depend on where we are with the economy, and what party is in charge. Tip O'Neill once said all politics is local. So the military will be, as usual, too little, too late for pretty much anything. That's the cycle that several pointed out already. Speaking of cycles, I expect the public to be less interested and thankful for military members. Those "Vet Parking Only" signs at Home Depot will likely be long gone. I hope that won't be the case, but I remember how I was treated during the 'Nam years.

One thing that wasn't mention is our military may look different depending on if the EU tanks or not. If they do, we'll be more alone as Europe will introvert itself with little interest in a strong NATO. China and Russia are doing everything they can to make that happen as well as adding carbon to the air to get the northern sea lanes open. Again, we'll be too little, too late.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Dec 28 at 2015 8:26 PM

2015-12-28T20:26:57-05:00

IMO, things will be a lot worse.
We'll still be in Afghanistan. We'll be in Syria and probably Iraq again. We'll be involved in proxy wars with China and Russia. Cold War ver 2.0 will be in effect.

We'll have a hollow force because "the powers that be" have no freakin' foresight. Technology will rule the day, but it won't get the job done by itself.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 8:52 PM

2015-12-28T20:52:43-05:00

Despite our desires and history, there is a possibility that the influence of socialist/progressives/liberals is having on our society (immigration dilutes our culture and weighs on our economy) will require an involuntary draft to fill our ranks. The 'soft' millennials and the generations that follow will require a great deal of effort to get into physical, mental and ethical shape before their first battle. Like every other 'first battle' we will throw many young troops and some aged leaders hurriedly into conflict, only to suffer a costly defeat. Whether or not we continue beyond that point depends on how threatened our country feels.

The alternative is that the next great 'first battle' will take place within our borders pitting government against rebelling factions not unlike the Civil War of the 1860s. This will pit the liberal 'social justice' group against the conservative 'personal responsibility' group. Whether it is because a conservative administration and empty treasury result in an end to the Great Welfare Society policies of wealth distribution or a liberal administration and empty treasury unable to maintain our infrastructure (physical, economic, educational and social) is irrelevant. The turmoil we see growing in the world, supported by the mass importation of people and cultures that prefer America's downfall, portends a greater risk of internal strife.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2015 11:38 PM

2015-12-28T23:38:38-05:00

In ten years, I expect to see us on the verge of going purple - no more Army and Air Force and Navy and Marine Corps - just one branch - the "American Armed Forces."

There are zero reasons to have FIVE different personnel systems. There are zero reasons for four services to have CAS capabilities and cargo capabilities. There are zero reasons to have five different NCOES systems. There are zero reasons to have five different communications systems for short-distance comms. There are zero reasons to have phreaking trademarked camo patterns to make us "special." The money that would be saved would be ENORMOUS!!

Yeah, it's not a popular idea, and some of the folks that truly fear change are feeling their heads start to explode for me bringing this up at all, but if we were all that interested in nothing but history and tradition, we'd be using flintlock weapons and nothing but bugle calls and messengers to send messages. It's time to enter the 21st Century.

(MCPO braces for impact)

Response by SSG Clarence Blackburn made Dec 29 at 2015 4:48 AM

2015-12-29T04:48:17-05:00

Instead of us having our branch on our chest, it will say World Police. We will all be part of the UN.

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Dec 29 at 2015 8:31 AM

2015-12-29T08:31:41-05:00

At the beckoning call of the events of the time. How is it that every time a war is in the wind, that a government that is on the verge of being broke is able to come up with the money. I say it's not the money that is the problem, it is the politicians that want their agenda
The military is a means to an end

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2015 9:53 AM

2015-12-29T09:53:24-05:00

In bases all around the world

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2015 11:45 AM

2015-12-29T11:45:28-05:00

USSF :) United States Space Force :P

Response by SFC John Davis made Dec 29 at 2015 2:37 PM

2015-12-29T14:37:45-05:00

In Moscow...☺️

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2015 8:39 AM

2015-12-31T08:39:17-05:00

Unfortunately a more politically correct army, which will makes us more weak.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2016 5:59 PM

2016-01-01T17:59:04-05:00

As the world continues toward globalization I believe we will see an increased use of Special Forces and unmanned tech.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jan 1 at 2016 6:03 PM

2016-01-01T18:03:59-05:00

I think the biggest factor that will impact the military will be the economic status of our nation 10 years from now. In the book, GHOST FLEET, A NOVEL OF THE NEXT WORLD WAR, (which is based on realistic capabilities and technologies), the authors write about an economic downturn that makes our high-tech weapons, ships, and planes too expensive. China also will be a factor as I just read today that their economy may surpass ours by 2025. So those are two factors that will shape our military along with how the political parties evolve and which one is in power then. Pending no drastic changes in the geo-political situation, I think we will still be involved in combat operations albeit somewhat smaller scale. I also see continued partnership deployments for the Army similar to what we are doing in Europe and Korea now. Our forces will continue to rely more and more on technology which GHOST FLEET talks about as a potential weakness as well. Of course, an Iranian nuclear test, an implosion in North Korea, or the actions of one mad man would change all of these predictions.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2016 1:32 AM

2016-01-02T01:32:21-05:00

I see the Army much more engaged with Tech. Body Armor that looks like something like Helo that is linked to others in the area. Drones may take the role of CAS. I could see UAV with just about every maneuver unit. When they are engaged the drone goes to work along the side of the soldiers on the ground. MREs that are so good they will have ones like Prime Rib and Sweet Potato Casserole.

Response by SFC Ken Cormier made Jan 5 at 2016 6:52 AM

2016-01-05T06:52:27-05:00

Financial disaster; hedging with gold, bitcoin, hard assets & enjoying life to its fullest (age is an excuse to procrastinate)

Response by SFC Tim Drye made Feb 25 at 2016 12:48 PM

2016-02-25T12:48:57-05:00

We'll disband and sit around the nato table singing combya if things don't change in the congress, Senate and president