Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
The problem now is one of shifting priorities.
The American's since 9/11 have shifted their armed forces away from conventional cold war style battles to fighting insurgencies and fighters carrying AK-47's while riding mules through mountain passes.
Everything is about that, including the change in priorities from a blue water navy to a brown water navy.
Now the world is threatening to change again and we've moved from the guild lines of war in the 21st century as we thought it would be.
Meanwhile the Russians have continued to develop their conventional war fighting capabilities in terms of their new subs, and fighter planes and a heavier emphasis on piece meal battles. The Chinese have done very much the same as they've changed the direction of their navy from a coastal navy to a blue water navy with new deep water subs, first wave air craft carrier and deep water escort groups.
Even American training has changed.
This was a danger that I put out there a few years back when somebody bought up the idea of a specialized armed forces built around anti terror. Warfare changes rapidly and you have to be ready to defend yourself in all kinds of different environments.
If the American's wanted to be somewhat proactive, they would move equipment into Poland or Romania and commence with field exercises. They could probably start moving a MAU unit and a armored cav division over and have them there in two weeks. They could move a Airborne Division, a Light Infantry Division over there in a couple of days, and move a few squadrons of fighters and fighter bombers to Poland by the end of the week to show a commitment to their Nato Allies.
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Yeah, it's not so much the reorientation that is concerning, but actually the inability to engage in conventional warfare because the ranks have been so depleted.
150, 000 cases of PTSD after a decade of terror-war really adversely affects America's combat readiness.
Even if it had been 1 tour for most of these guys instead of 3/4 or even 6/7 would have them at much more optimal readiness.
It makes me angry because now there is a real, legitimate problem and things that once were polished and ready and now tarnished and broken.
Silver lining I guess is that the US and UK have more boisterous and well equipped ground forces that have better urban training, but, this is an example of why you don't toss your armed forces into the breach for any old reason. You save them until there's fightin' to be done.