Stand-To!- Restoring balance - Feb. 29, 2008

[stand-to at www.lists.army.mil]

Edition: Fri, February 29, 2008
Rich-text Version
SENIOR LEADERS ARE SAYING
"We must emphasize doctrine as the driver for change. ... You can't  
cement change in the organization until you adapt the institutions.  
That change begins with doctrine."

- Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr.

Army unveils new field manual for operations

FM 3-0 (PDF download)

TODAY'S FOCUS
This is the third of an eight part series highlighting critical  
elements of the 2008 Army Posture Statement. The previous two topics  
discussed the global trends that are contributing to an era of  
persistent conflict and the challenges the Army is facing in  
providing forces with the right capabilities to meet current and  
future demands.

Restoring balance

Today’s Army is out of balance. The current demand for our forces in  
Iraq and Afghanistan exceeds the sustainable supply and limits our  
ability to provide ready forces for other contingencies. While our  
reserve components (RC) are performing magnificently, many RC units  
have found themselves assigned missions for which they were not  
originally intended nor adequately resourced. Current operational  
requirements for forces and insufficient time between deployments  
require a focus on counterinsurgency training and equipping to the  
detriment of preparedness for the full range of military missions.

We are unable to provide a sustainable tempo of deployments for our  
Soldiers and Families. Soldiers, Families, support systems and  
equipment are stretched and stressed by the demands of lengthy and  
repeated deployments with insufficient recovery time. Equipment used  
repeatedly in harsh environments is wearing out more rapidly than  
programmed. Army support systems, designed for the pre-9/11 peacetime  
Army are straining under the accumulation of stress from six years at  
war. Overall, our readiness is being consumed as fast as we build it.  
If unaddressed, this lack of balance poses a significant risk to the  
all-volunteer force and degrades the Army’s ability to make a timely  
response to other contingencies.

We are committed to restoring balance to preserve our all-volunteer  
force, restore necessary depth and breadth to Army capabilities, and  
build essential capacity for the future. Our plan will mitigate near- 
term risk and restore balance by 2011 through four imperatives:  
Sustain, Prepare, Reset and Transform.

- Sustain. To sustain our Soldiers, Families, and Army Civilians in  
an era of persistent conflict we must maintain the quality and  
viability of the all-volunteer force and the many capabilities it  
provides to the nation. Sustain ensures our Soldiers and their  
Families have the quality of life they deserve and that we recruit  
and sustain a high-quality force.

- Prepare. To prepare our Solders, units, and equipment we must  
maintain a high level of readiness for the current operational  
environments, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan.

- Reset. To reset our force we must prepare our Soldiers, units, and  
equipment for future deployments and other contingencies.

- Transform. To transform our force, we must continuously improve our  
ability to meet the needs of the combatant commanders in a changing  
security environment.

2008 Army Posture Statement (full version)

INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
• 2007 Strategic Communication Guide - Read the 2007 Army Strategic  
Communication Guide for key messages and updates

• Strategic Communication Coordination Group (SCCG) Workspace

• Army Public Affairs Portal

• Stories of Valor

NEWS ABOUT THE ARMY
Army's new manual puts a high priority on nation building (BG)
Amid probes, Army reworks purchasing protocol (PI)
Hybrid-electric Future Combat Systems to roll on line (ARNews)
First 'Active First' Soldier graduates (ARNews)
WAR ON TERROR NEWS
Moneymakers: Five questions with Steven Schooner, contracting expert,  
zeroes in on Iraq (HC)
U.S. embrace of Musharraf irks Pakistanis (NYT)
U.S. wary of Iran's growing activity in Iraq (CT)
'Phantom' police on payrolls in Iraq (USA)
OF INTEREST
U.S. warns Europe of Iran missiles (LAT)
Alaska Guard's partnership with Mongolia flourishes (ARNews)
First Sergeant Course begins new era of instruction (ARNews)
Buckley left his mark on politics (WT)
China to provide information on U.S. servicemen missing from Korean  
War (VOA)
WORLD VIEW
Taliban threaten spring offensive on Kabul (TEL | Story)
Opinion: The U.S. flag: Raised by Muslims, burnt by Christians (AA |  
Story)
Prince Harry serving in Afghanistan (TO | Story)
WHAT'S BEING SAID IN BLOGS
Air force blocks access to many blogs (DR)
Teleconference with generals in Iraq provide students a clearer  
understanding of war effort (SM)
Nine months in the rear view mirror (GC)
Man's best friend (N2G)
Don't let yourself go when he gets home (LAS)
Supporting our Soldiers, Civilians and their Families (CES)
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