Here is what he sees as the future of the US military.


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The U.S. Army of the future will need to concentrate more on training foreign militaries, mastering other languages and customs, and honing its ability to fight smaller forces of insurgents, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday.

In broad strokes, Gates laid out a vision for transforming the Army to a force better able to fight the type of unconventional warfare it has seen in Iraq and Afghanistan, which he said will "remain the mainstay of the contemporary battlefield for some time."

Speaking to the Association of the United States Army, Gates said the Army may also need to re-examine its policies for promotions and assignments to make sure the best and brightest officers _ who have learned much over the past six years of war _ stay in the service.


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Here is the future unless we learn to stay out of others business.


The U.S. Army will continue to rely on an unpopular program that forces some soldiers to stay on beyond their retirement or re-enlistment dates, despite repeated pressure from Defense Secretary Robert Gates to reduce and eventually eliminate the practice.

Lt. Gen. Michael Rochelle, deputy chief of staff for personnel, said Thursday that the number of soldiers kept on duty has actually increased in recent months as a result of President Bush's orders to increase troop levels in Iraq this year to help quell the violence.


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The U.S. Army will continue to rely on an unpopular program that forces some soldiers to stay on beyond their retirement or re-enlistment dates

That should say most not some. They are already seeing the results of being overstreched in non-combat deaths.

If I hear how much the conservatives support the troops I will scream! Nothing I see or hear supports that statement.

Support the troops doesn't mean much in Washington other that a talking point for political support. They simply don't see it as an important issue or they would do more to correct the problem.

That brings me back to the fact that the troops are nothing more than a tool, to be use til broken, discard and buy a new one.

I agree, and we won't know how broken they really are for a few more years. They are already showing signs of combat fatigue and increasing cases of PTSD.

I am guessing that this is part of the strategy.


WASHINGTON - The U.S. Army will continue to rely on an unpopular program that forces some soldiers to stay on beyond their retirement or re-enlistment dates, despite repeated pressure from Defense Secretary Robert Gates to reduce and eventually eliminate the practice.

Lt. Gen. Michael Rochelle, deputy chief of staff for personnel, said Thursday that the number of soldiers kept on duty has actually increased in recent months as a result of President Bush's orders to increase troop levels in Iraq this year to help quell the violence


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