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Military Reform: What Would You Do?

blackjack50

blackjack50

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So I have been reading about some different militaries: roman, French, Prussian, and so on. And just some of the interesting ideas that came about out for reforms. Things like grenadiers, professional soldiers, and things like that. So I am just wondering:

If you had to reform the U.S. Military what would you do? Would you reduce size? Reduce brass? Increase firepower of infantry? This is your oyster. So red tape or whatever doesn't really apply here.
 
stonewall50 said:
So I have been reading about some different militaries: roman, French, Prussian, and so on. And just some of the interesting ideas that came about out for reforms. Things like grenadiers, professional soldiers, and things like that. So I am just wondering:

If you had to reform the U.S. Military what would you do? Would you reduce size? Reduce brass? Increase firepower of infantry? This is your oyster. So red tape or whatever doesn't really apply here.
Click to expand...

Posted this before.
I believe whole heartedly that if we decide to go to war. We all go. Thats right every able bodied man from 18 to 65.
You can argue sending the wimmins later if you want.
I dont think the load should be carried by men that will have to live a lifetime with what they see, do, killing, dying in the name of what our leaders say.
That includes our elected officials. Their kids, grand kids, college kids, etc etc etc.
Not all at once, get a foot hold with our regular military, then start drafting. Dont go, fine. Dont ask for any social benefit later in life. Ever, for any reason.
 
CRUE CAB said:
Posted this before.
I believe whole heartedly that if we decide to go to war. We all go. Thats right every able bodied man from 18 to 65.
You can argue sending the wimmins later if you want.
I dont think the load should be carried by men that will have to live a lifetime with what they see, do, killing, dying in the name of what our leaders say.
That includes our elected officials. Their kids, grand kids, college kids, etc etc etc.
Not all at once, get a foot hold with our regular military, then start drafting. Dont go, fine. Dont ask for any social benefit later in life. Ever, for any reason.
Click to expand...

I think if elected officials and their loved ones were drafted the US would never see another day of war.Then again they would probably figure out a way to put our elected officials in noncombat positions. They would be finance, rear mechanics, and any other MOS that will never see the light of day in a war zone. While everyone else would be infantry,scouts, tankers, line mechanics and medics, and other MOS that are either combat MOS or combat support MOS that will see the light of day in the battlefield.
 
I'd expand the military. Develop a dedicated anti-terror doctrine. Create incentives to keep people in longer, especially special forces for how they are currently used. And not use it as a means for coercion of social policies.
 
CRUE CAB said:
Posted this before.
I believe whole heartedly that if we decide to go to war. We all go. Thats right every able bodied man from 18 to 65.
You can argue sending the wimmins later if you want.
I dont think the load should be carried by men that will have to live a lifetime with what they see, do, killing, dying in the name of what our leaders say.
That includes our elected officials. Their kids, grand kids, college kids, etc etc etc.
Not all at once, get a foot hold with our regular military, then start drafting. Dont go, fine. Dont ask for any social benefit later in life. Ever, for any reason.
Click to expand...

I disagree. Drafts are not effective ways in getting soldiers. Not good ones.
 
I would end contractors doing any form of operation for the military. I would want A10s upgraded with better engines and look in to ways to create better, more accurate CAS.

Oh. I would want the military looking into ways to construct bases faster and stronger.
 
Super small changes: Allow soldiers (if there is a trust issue then only the armorer of a given group) to camoflauge their guns. What the hell is the use of camoflauge when you have a big all black gun sticking out like a sore thumb. Weapons systems should also be camoflauged IMO.

Bigger changes: Crack the hell down on all cases of sexual assault. I need my men to trust each other and their officers, not fear each other.

I would also tell PMCs to **** themselves.

Not sure what else for now. But class is about to begin so I'll think of something later.
 
jamesrage said:
I think if elected officials and their loved ones were drafted the US would never see another day of war.Then again they would probably figure out a way to put our elected officials in noncombat positions. They would be finance, rear mechanics, and any other MOS that will never see the light of day in a war zone. While everyone else would be infantry,scouts, tankers, line mechanics and medics, and other MOS that are either combat MOS or combat support MOS that will see the light of day in the battlefield.
Click to expand...
I really don't care if they Armor All aircraft tires. But they would have to go. 9 months away from home. Just like anyone else.
 
Luftwaffe said:
Super small changes: Allow soldiers (if there is a trust issue then only the armorer of a given group) to camoflauge their guns. What the hell is the use of camoflauge when you have a big all black gun sticking out like a sore thumb. Weapons systems should also be camoflauged IMO.

Bigger changes: Crack the hell down on all cases of sexual assault. I need my men to trust each other and their officers, not fear each other.

I would also tell PMCs to **** themselves.

Not sure what else for now. But class is about to begin so I'll think of something later.
Click to expand...

Why cant they hydro dip their guns now?
 
CRUE CAB said:
Why cant they hydro dip their guns now?
Click to expand...

Essentially a lack of trust from what I hear.

It amazes me how soldiers can be trusted with millions of dollars worth of equipment yet can't be trusted with simply camoflauging their guns.
 
stonewall50 said:
So I have been reading about some different militaries: roman, French, Prussian, and so on. And just some of the interesting ideas that came about out for reforms. Things like grenadiers, professional soldiers, and things like that. So I am just wondering:

If you had to reform the U.S. Military what would you do? Would you reduce size? Reduce brass? Increase firepower of infantry? This is your oyster. So red tape or whatever doesn't really apply here.
Click to expand...
I would reduce the size of the standing full-time military, all branches, to 5%. Yes, I would fire 95% of all full-time military personnel. We would return to a militia based military were the common civilian, having served a mandatory term of service upon turning 18, would be called on for specific actions of limited scope and well defined duration. Every able bodied adult would be in the National Guard and drill once per month, no conscientious-objector exceptions.
 
Luftwaffe said:
Essentially a lack of trust from what I hear.

It amazes me how soldiers can be trusted with millions of dollars worth of equipment yet can't be trusted with simply camoflauging their guns.
Click to expand...
I suppose they would want a standardized method. But hydro is pretty simple.
 
Jerry said:
I would reduce the size of the standing full-time military, all branches, to 5%. Yes, I would fire 95% of all full-time military personnel. We would return to a militia based military were the common civilian, having served a mandatory term of service upon turning 18, would be called on for specific actions of limited scope and well defined duration. Every able bodied adult would be in the National Guard and drill once per month, no conscientious-objector exceptions.
Click to expand...

Would you make exceptions for things like epilepsy? Asthma? That is something that always bothered me. I can't serve with my epilepsy. My very mild epilepsy that doesn't give me seizures. Plenty of non combat roles I could fill.
 
Michael Johnson said:
This government is on its way to self-imposed implosion. Not worried about one assassination department of the government, at this moment.
Click to expand...

You took 21 words to say "I wont add to this conversation!"?
 
Jerry said:
I would reduce the size of the standing full-time military, all branches, to 5%. Yes, I would fire 95% of all full-time military personnel. We would return to a militia based military were the common civilian, having served a mandatory term of service upon turning 18, would be called on for specific actions of limited scope and well defined duration. Every able bodied adult would be in the National Guard and drill once per month, no conscientious-objector exceptions.
Click to expand...

That's much more severe than I would go.

I'd cut the standing military by 50%

I'd cut the overseas bases by 30%; close many of them down

I'd increase the R&D for both offensive and defensive weapons (non nuclear, non-biologic, non-chemical).

I'd put in place a 2 year minimum requirement for all HS graduates for basic military training and service - no exceptions, rich, poor, middle class, men and women to be done between the ages of 18 and 28. This would include any of the 4 branches of military as well as Coast Guard. Failure to do so would require 4 years of full-time community service at the State level or minimum security incarceration for the same 4 years. No fines and no way to buy out of this one.

I'd remove the war powers act or gut it and put Constitutional powers back into military engagements, (e.g., President calls on Congress for military actions - Congress must pass it or it's a no go) to include wars and lesser use where the military will be in harms way.

For Congressional approved wars, a draft would be instituted, no buy out via conscription, no delays because of rich or poor - everyone goes between the ages of 18 and 40, who are able bodied and mentally sound.


Just off the top of my head... I'm sure I'll think of more.
 
Yikes...dont give me that kind of power...

1-Start at boot camp/basic. Toughen em up. I dont want to send soft squishy fuzzy little bunnies to war. Good time to also enforce/reinforce core values. Help people understand that violation of core values will have dire consequences.
2-Radically alter the way defense contracting is currently processed.
3-I'd bring in my top military experts and have them design for me what the force is SUPPOSED to look like (where money is no object) and then tailor the force to their guidelines.
4-Probably have fewer bases but larger.
5-Fire whoever the dumbasses are that keep altering the uniforms.
6-Reinforce the NCO corps/massively reduce the officer corps.
Allow for emergency wartime response but build in a requirement to clearly define war, mission, scope, and post war ops.
7-Review the entire military medical care system and Veterans Administration. MAJOR changes there with regard to scope, access to services, disability ratings and definitions, concurrent pay, etc.

Thats a start I guess.
 
CRUE CAB said:
I really don't care if they Armor All aircraft tires. But they would have to go. 9 months away from home. Just like anyone else.
Click to expand...

Not all military service is equal. Elected officials and their loved ones who serve the military as POGs IE civilians in soldiers clothing will have nothing to worry about when pushing us into another war. Make them serve in the same roles as those on the front lines and I bet that they would be less likely to be eager to push this country into another useless war.
 
VanceMack said:
Yikes...dont give me that kind of power...

1-Start at boot camp/basic. Toughen em up. I dont want to send soft squishy fuzzy little bunnies to war. Good time to also enforce/reinforce core values. Help people understand that violation of core values will have dire consequences.
2-Radically alter the way defense contracting is currently processed.
3-I'd bring in my top military experts and have them design for me what the force is SUPPOSED to look like (where money is no object) and then tailor the force to their guidelines.
4-Probably have fewer bases but larger.
5-Fire whoever the dumbasses are that keep altering the uniforms.
6-Reinforce the NCO corps/massively reduce the officer corps.
Allow for emergency wartime response but build in a requirement to clearly define war, mission, scope, and post war ops.
7-Review the entire military medical care system and Veterans Administration. MAJOR changes there with regard to scope, access to services, disability ratings and definitions, concurrent pay, etc.

Thats a start I guess.
Click to expand...

For sure on uniforms. And fire whoever approved the army uni
 
1) No more coed units. Women want to serve in the military? Fine, they'll do it in all female units.

2) Females will meet the male PT standard.

3) Tougher basic training, along with infantry school for all Army and Marine personnel.

4) Airborne and air assault school will be standard for all Marine and Army personnel.

5) Everyone qualify on their primary weapon 4 times a year and will qualify on heavy weapon--machine guns, anti-armor weapons--2 times a year.

6) All support arms will spend a minimum of 100 days annually in the field.

7) Sniper school will no longer be a pass, or fail course and anyone that requests to attend the school will be accepted.

For starters...
 
stonewall50 said:
Would you make exceptions for things like epilepsy? Asthma? That is something that always bothered me. I can't serve with my epilepsy. My very mild epilepsy that doesn't give me seizures. Plenty of non combat roles I could fill.
Click to expand...
If you take a moment to actually read what I typed you'll see I had said "able bodied adult". If you have epilepsy then you are not an "able bodied adult".

There are no "non-combat" rolls in the service anymore. Everyone trains for combat. Even paperclip rangers go on convoy, perform ECP and tower duty at least.
 
Jerry said:
I ****ing hear that! They're getting ready to change it again, too: Soldiers to get new camo uniform beginning next summer | Article | The United States Army
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Sweet mother...

Its rather ridonkulous. The first time I went to the desert I went in the Forest BDU. 2nd 3rd and 4th time...the chocolate chip DCU-with forest green chem warfare suits (I actually deployed in forest BDUS...I was headed to Columbia-then, 24 hours later...). 5th 6th and 7th time...the muted desert camo uniform...with forest green flack jackets and utility set ups. We finally got covers for the flack jackets. And the UOD back at home station? Forest BDUs. I couldnt wear any of the 30 or so sets of desert cammies at all. What would have made sense would have been the old standard issue green fatigues. To say nothing of the constant changing name tapes, patches, covers, etc. Now they have some Vietnam era tiger stripe AF uniform with ugly greenish desert boots that you cant hardly wear.
 
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