Concerns About U.S. Army Training Being Raised

U.S. Army paratroopers exit a C-130 aircraft over Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, Feb. 12, 2010, as part of the largest airborne exercise conducted by U.S. forces in Iraq since the beginning of the war. The soldiers are assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade, an Advise and Assist Brigade. A jumper’s parachute is opened by the yellow universal static line seen here along the fuselage of the aircraft. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod

General Sounds Alarm On U.S. Army Training -- McClatchy News

WASHINGTON — The Army's ability to train its forces is "increasingly at risk" because of the nation's protracted commitments to Iraq and Afghanistan, the general in charge of training has told the Army's chief of staff.

In a Feb. 16 memo to Gen. George W. Casey, Gen. Martin Dempsey, the commander of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, says that the Army has lost thousands of uniformed trainers because of troop demands in Iraq and Afghanistan, has had to put junior officers in charge of some key training functions and has delayed initial instruction for nearly 500 pilots because it doesn't have enough trainers.

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More News On Concerns That U.S. Training Is Failing

Army sees sharp rise in unfit soldiers -- USA Today
General: Demands of Iraq, Afghan wars hurting Army's ability to train its forces -- Sacremento Bee
Army's Training Ability 'At Risk' Because Of Iraq And Afghanistan Wars, General Dempsey Warns -- Huffington post
Morale: Dwell On It -- Strategy Page

My Comment: Fighting 2 wars for the past 7 years will impact any military's training program. In particular .... veterans will feel less inclined to continue because of the stress and worries that it gives to families. Still .... kudos to the military for at least still meeting its recruitment drives.