ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

Even as the Army draws down from more than a decade of constant operations in the Middle East, it remains capable of undertaking independent action to defeat enemies, deter aggression, shape the environment and provide support to civil authorities. At the same time, it can perform across the range of military operations with myriad partners, simultaneously helping friends and allies while deterring foes.

The United States depends on volunteers for its security. It is a very small percentage of the population that commits to serve their country in the armed forces, performing a duty that most refuse. A still smaller subset of these men and women commit entire careers to service; these form the enduring foundation of expertise and professionalism necessary to rebuild the forces now being reduced in every category of size, equipment and readiness.

Today’s security environment is as uncertain and complex as ever, and it is the duty of the joint force to remain trained and fully ready to meet any challenge. The nation expects nothing less. As an integral part of tomorrow’s joint force, the Army must provide globally flexible, responsive, regionally engaged forces to meet combatant commanders’ objectives across the full spectrum of conflict—from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions to stability operations to major combined-arms campaigns.

The Army’s civilian and military senior leaders traditionally have two distinct roles: a strategic role as key military advisors in the development of national and warfighting strategy— including resourcing—and an institutional role as designers, organizers, trainers and equippers of the Army. The most successful leaders have generally weighted efforts to the institutional role while metering efforts to change strategies and budgets.

A complex and dynamic global security environment, coupled with an uncertain fiscal environment, demands that the Army continue to invest wisely in innovation and technologies. The prospect of a smaller yet more capable Army demands an approach that balances increasing capabilities and reducing resource requirements. Digital connectivity links the Soldier and squad, their tactical vehicles and the command post to provide unprecedented mission command.