US Army at 239 Years Old

Weak image for great birthday. Fire the Public Affairs Officer in charge.

Happy 239th Birthday, US Army!

I have genuine pride and concerns about our Army. My Army. I know I’m just a retired old soldier. Concerns may be dismissed as merely ‘grumpy’ complaining as common to old soldiers as constant complaining is to troops. So, let’s talk pride first.

The weak 239th birthday poster doesn’t show the pride of the Army – and the Nation. Recently, the Army was voted the most important service. The Army won with only about 26% of the vote. Well over 50% of Americans should hold the Army in such respect. Perhaps they would, if the Army was able and willing to communicate what the Army is to the Nation.

The Army created the Nation. No Army, no Nation. Without the Army there would be no America. Period.

The US Army came of age at Yorktown. Only a professional, hard core Army could make the bayonet assault that sealed the fate of the British Army – the best in the world.

The U.S. Army comes into its own near my home – Yorktown, VA

From 1781 on the U.S. Army defended the Nation it created. Except for the War of the Barbary Pirates and clearing the seas of all pirates, every war was Land Warfare until WW II. Naval campaigns supported the Land campaign (the Naval campaign in the Philippines in the Spanish-American War is probably an exception).

The Pacific War had 3 theaters – 4 if you include China-Burma-India. Two of the 3 theaters were Naval campaigns. The US Navy planned for war with Japan across the Pacific for 20 years. The Navy-Marine Corps team executed splendidly.

When Japan surrendered after the nuclear attacks it was supposed to be a new day for all warfare. It was an additional aspect of war – especially at the Strategic level – but not an end to Land Warfare. Obviously – Occupation, Greece, Korea, Lebanon, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Deterrence with NATO, Grenada, El Salvador, Panama, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom – indicate land operations continued unabated.

Now, the Obama Administration wants to cut the Army back to pre-WW II strength. The Republicans in the House of Representatives are going along like good sheep. The Marines will be ‘cut’ back to over 5 times their pre-WW II strength.

The same Army leadership that is clueless on their birthday poster, is inept at Service, DoD and Congressional politics. The Army, apparently, is incapable of keeping the National Guard and Army Reserve on the same team. It’s frustrating to watch from the cheap seats.

In WWI there was one brigade of Marines serving in one of the 30 Army Divisions in France. In WW II there were 90 Army divisions and 6 Marine divisions. The Marine Corps came into its own politically after WW II.

In Korea and Vietnam there were 10 Army Divisions in the field with 2 Marine Divisions. In Iraq and Afghanistan there were 5 Army brigades for every 1 Marine brigade.

The Army conducts Land Warfare supported by other services. Special Operations support also. Kowtowing to “Jointness” instead of advocating for “jointness” supporting unity of command and effort has consequences coming as cuts to the Army. Yet, the Army is going to take the cuts saluting all the way.

That’s a real concern, because a 500k Army is a Super Power’s Army. A 300k Army is a Regional Power’s Army. A 150k Marine Corps is a second land army if the Army is 300k – which is against the law.

(Dear Marine friends, please don’t get upset. The Marine Corps should be sized to its missions – which means sealift. The Marine Corps has mastered politics so well, there is nothing to fear from my piece).

Meanwhile I have every confidence in the Army understanding itself as a huge organization, knowing troops, training and leadership – (all the doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, personnel across Land Warfare) – seeing and preparing for Land Warfare better than anyone in the world. As recently as March 2013, I got to see the Army leaning forward to better prepare for all prompt and sustained land operations – as it’s required to do by law.

I wish the Army leadership could – and would – communicate the Army to the People.

Unfortunately, the Army leadership doesn’t have the moral stature to keep the Army from being gutted. Nothing is more important than keeping the combat experienced soldiers in the force. The combat troops can make all the difference in future fights for another 20 to 30 years. Most likely, in that 30 years there will be another fight. The blooded Army will have fewer casualties as a new generation of combat vets is created.

Finally, one birthday history note. Our Indian Wars went from 1608 to 1890 = 282 years. Our World War Against Islamists may go longer. The US Army that fought the Indians from 1866 to 1890 was a professional force. The soldiers weren’t saints. They weren’t the best and brightest of a very material age. They served well – with distinction. There are lessons to learn from that Army and those fights.

The frontier Army had confidence in its culture. Our Army should too. Islam isn’t Judeo-Christian Western Civilization. Homosexual marriage isn’t marriage. Christian troops and chaplains shouldn’t be suppressed.

I’m concerned the Army leadership doesn’t have such confidence – or the courage of convictions to defend those that do. When things get worse – and they will – along the cultural chasms that divide the Army, as the Nation, I hope I’m proven wrong.

I really hope the West Pointers stand up for the harder right instead of the easier wrong. The Nation will always need its Army. America can’t survive, ultimately, without the Army.

Happy Birthday, United States Army.