The Pentagon's skunk works is creating technology to build the 'super soldier' of the future. It envisions using augmented reality to help ground troops identify targets, sources of gunfire and help with communication
Lou DiStasi, Defense News: Modernizing the US military by learning from the past
“Innovation” and “force modernization” are the Pentagon buzzwords of the day. Strategies are being developed across the Department of Defense enterprise, with these concepts as the foundational pillars. Is this a flawed idea involving competing philosophies? Can the U.S. be truly innovative if it wants to rapidly modernize its force?
For the first time in decades, the United States military apparatus does not possess a clear advantage on the world stage. The flattening of the technological landscape and emergence of peer adversaries requires that the U.S. innovate to remain dominant. While technological progress remains critical, fielding systems more rapidly is also necessary.
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WNU Editor: It is advancements in technology that is driving the military on how to fight future wars. But the U.S. is not the only player when it comes to technological innovation and military modernization, and it definitely no longer has a monopoly in being the world leader in this field. And while the past can help the U.S. military in knowing how best to innovate, I would also suggest looking at how other countries are modernizing their military, and learn from them.
How else is someone going to learn, if not from the past?
ReplyDeleteby science
ReplyDeleteGeneral Patton said it best.
ReplyDelete"To be a successful soldier you must know history. Read it objectively–dates and even the minute details of tactics are useless. What you must know is how man reacts. Weapons change but man who uses them changes not at all. To win battles you do not beat weapons–you beat the soul of man of the enemy man. To do that you have to destroy his weapons, but that is only incidental. You must read biography and especially autobiography. If you will do it you will find that war is simple. Decide what will hurt the enemy most within the limits of your capabilities to harm him and then do it. TAKE CALCULATED RISKS. That is quite different from being rash. My personal belief is that if you have a 50% chance take it because the superior fighting qualities of American soldiers lead by me will surely give you the extra 1% necessary."
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/manvotional-a-letter-from-general-george-s-patton-to-his-son/
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Studying how other countries are modernizing their militaries and learning from them excellent advice!! It is important to try and determine whom to study. The Chinese and the Russians have been extremely successful thus far in the 21st century. Also, Iranian expansion has been relentless. If you want to be the best, study the best!!
ReplyDeleteAnon (3:50PM),
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link and the quote regarding general Patton. If general Patton were in the military today, unfortunately I don't think he'd be protmotable to general today. The same could probably be said of many of our generals of old.
The quote is essentially spot on, however, I would add to this that not only does the successful soldier need to know history he/she also needs to know and understand current events as well and they need to be analyzed objectively. This can be VERY difficult to do.
The rest of the quote is 100% spot on except for perhaps the last sentence. He places a great deal of confidence in his leadership and the fighting capabilities of the men he led. History teaches us that such confidence was warranted.
As for today, the military is worn down and depleted from continuing and fruitless operations around the world. As a result of this, training has suffered immensely and the military leadership who must suck up to poor political leadership to get and maintain their jobs is now poor as well. This is NOT the fault of our brave and dedicated warriors. This is a leadership problem. Also, there is a significant "fifth column" who will actively undermine our efforts.
In light of this, to apply General Patton's final sentence to today, if there is otherwise a 50% chance of victory, you must make subtractions to account for the poor political and military leadership, the worn down nature of the military, the subpar training, and the influential fifth column. As such, I'd estimate a subtraction of at least 40% meaning the chance of victory is now actually at best 10%.
As stated, evaluating such things objectively can be difficult. If I am right, naturally certain policies and actions should flow from this.
Essentially basic national defense is going to be problematic at best. As such, all of our forces scattered about the world should be redeployed as soon as is feasible with a shift in focus to being able to defend America.
On a positive note, much progress seems to have been made with regards to South Korea and North Korea. A successful resolution here will hasten the day our military personnel can be redeployed and it should help us in our trade negotiations with China.