In the post September 11, 2001 world, war is
the norm.. peace is the exception.
We are a nation at war and there is every indication
that we are a nation that will be involved in the ongoing global
war against terror for a prolonged period of time with great
uncertainty about the nature and location of where this conflict
will be
fought. In order to defeat this uncertain enemy, we must be able to defuse
new crises early and defeat new aggression as soon as it is identified to prevent
these situations from escalating and to limit the potential loss of life, damage
to key infrastructure, and adverse impact on our economy.
To accomplish these goals, we will need flexible,
rapidly deployable forces and sufficient depth and strength
to sustain multiple, simultaneous military combat operations.
We currently have 364,000 soldiers deployed in 120 countries.
The
uncertainties of the future may require even greater numbers of troops deployed
in even more locations.
Conventional Force on Force conflicts are still
possible but the more likely scenario is sporadic insurgencies
and opportunistic terror attacks. The unfortunate reality is
that our homeland is included in the list of potential battle
space. The good news is that we are adapting to these new challenges
NOW.
The entire military is undergoing major changes
in structure, training, and staffing, but none more so than
the Army.
And our New Jersey Army National Guard is fully
involved in this transformation. Our national defense forces
are being optimized to allow battlefield commanders to customize
our combat and support resources to prevail in any conflict
of any size in any type of terrain and successfully engage
in simultaneous, multiple missions.
We need to generate more versatile combat power
because we have and will continue to have extended worldwide
commitments. We must create a force that can be responsive
to the Combatant Commanders’ needs.
We must create units that are more relevant
to Regional Combatant Commanders and generate versatile combat
power with units that are self-contained, more easily sustainable,
and more lethal force packages. The Army of the future must
be organized to ensure maximum capabilities for the full range
of missions; fully interdependent with the other service branches;
comprised of adaptive, competent, and confident soldiers and
leaders; and truly a trained and ready partner in
the Joint Force.
Everything we’re doing is designed to
support the soldier. We are part of a proud heritage of fighting
and winning our Nation’s Wars. This noble tradition is
reflected clearly in our units’ lineage and honors ...
and in the number of bronze stars,
purple hearts, and other honors awarded to our citizen-soldiers.
We are adapting to the current and projected
operational environment. We are creating modular brigades and
command and control headquarters to better meet Combatant Commanders’ requirements
and to make the best use of the talent, dedication, and professionalism
of our soldiers.
This reorganization will result in more stable
combat and support forces; a better-balanced force mix including
Active, Guard, and Reserve forces.
This new, modular approach to aligning units
will provide capability-based units at the Brigade level to
Regional Combatant Commanders with responsive, fully mission-
capable combat and support organizations that operate effectively
in a
Joint, Combined or Multi-National environment.
The new force structure will provide greater
capacity for rapid and “tailorable” force packages
and improve strategic responsiveness for the full spectrum
of homeland defense and homeland security operations.
The Army, as is each of the other armed services,
is an indispensable and vital component of the Joint Team.
The Army will always conduct operations: offensive, defensive,
stability, and support in both a joint and expeditionary context.
It will continue to provide prompt, sustained, and decisive
land combat power working in concert with air and naval power
to ensure a synergy that will give the Joint Force capabilities
and power well beyond the sum of its individual parts.
In the past few years, the implementation of
the Joint Force concept has transformed our organization from
one engaged in independent, de-conflicted operations to one
capable of more effective, more efficient sustained interoperability.
Our National Guard, as part of the Joint Force, is now moving
rapidly towards the ultimate goal of joint interdependence.
It’s what the commanders on the battlefield need, it’s
what our soldiers need, and it’s what our nation needs. |