America's Broken-Down Army - TIME
This Time piece paints a picture of a breaking army, and in some respects, it is accurate, though a bit overblown. It also forgets to mention that a lot of people are wedded to the army either by long enlistment or the dangling carrot of a pension and health care for life after just 20 years of service. As the article progresses it accurately paints the solution; money, and lots off it. Pull some from the Air Force and the Navy, maybe dedicate a bit more of the budget to the problem and all things are fine in the U.S. Army.
While money can fix the problems, the cost is high, and personal. As it paints pictures of the Army tearing families apart (which it can do), it fails to mention, in many cases, that the army made opportunity for the family to begin in the first place, that is, the army offers opportunity and progression to those that would otherwise not had it.
I enjoy seeing pieces like this written because it is important to consider the war's implications on the force. It doesn't bring me grave concern though. I think the "big army" generals assessment that the army is doing fine is a bit of an overestimate, but at the same time, the army will be fine, and has been through much worse.
