Series designed to provide information that stimulates professional discussion and further public understanding of the Army’s role in national defense. 

China’s Army Becoming Modern, Mobile and More Lethal

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China’s Army Becoming Modern, Mobile and More Lethal

A new report to Congress reveals why the U.S. Army is thinking so much about China as a near-peer competitor. 

The army part of the People’s Liberation Army has 915,000 active-duty troops in combat units, making it the world’s largest ground force and one that is fielding upgraded combat and communications systems and other technologies in a drive toward a “more modern, mobile and lethal ground force,” says the DoD report titled “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China.” 

Defense Report Editorials

Defense Report Editorials

The Defense Report series was originally published in the form of a weekly editorial to be distributed to newspapers nationwide for publication. Nearly 600 Defense Report editorials were written before the series changed to a more in-depth, analytical format.

This series was published from 1976 to 1993.

 

Defense Reports

Defense Reports

Defense Reports were concise, informational papers designed to succinctly provide facts bearing on the most critical 21st century defense challenges. These messages were sent to the leadership of the United States Army and the Department of Defense, selected segments of the American public, members of Congress, key congressional staff, industry and the administration.

ILW Defense Reports: Archive

Defense Reports are concise, informational papers designed to succinctly provide facts bearing on the most critical 21st century defense challenges. These messages are sent to the leadership of the United States Army and the Department of Defense, selected segments of the American public, members of Congress, key congressional staff, industry and the administration.

Some Good News in the Budget

The Defense Appropriations Bill signed by the President in August contains an additional $5.1 billion dollars added by Congress, including $1.8 billion in the form of emergency supplemental funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000. The vast majority of these additional funds were earmarked for the Army, demonstrating Congress’ strong support for Army Transformation.The Senate and House in July approved the $287.8 billion defense appropriations bill for FY 2001. The budget the Clinton administration submitted to Congress in February requested $284.5 billion for defense.

Strategic Responsiveness: New Paradigm for a Transformed Army

Two interdependent characteristics distinguish strate-gically responsive military forces:• a combination of mission capabilities able to counter any significant threat to U.S. vital interests and• the ability to deploy the right mission capabilities to the right places at the right times to achieve decisive results.While much remains uncertain about the security environment of the 21st century, this much is already clear: In the future, a number of states will be able to threaten our nation’s interests in new ways by using asymmetric capabilities.

Closing the Pay Gap

The Association of the United States Army has been in the forefront of the campaign to close the pay gap. AUSA has spoken out—to the American people, to our elected representatives and to the administration. A nation that sends its sons and daughters around the globe—often in harm’s way, with no notice and an uncertain return date—has an obligation to ensure that they are adequately paid and that their families enjoy a reasonable standard of living. Even after the recent pay raise, the gap is still much too wide: almost 10 percent.

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