In its eighth year of war, the United States Armed Forces remains out of balance, two top officials told lawmakers Tuesday. Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and Chief of Staff of the Army, General George Casey told the U.S. Senate Armed Services committee that the army is stretched to the limit, and restoring balance in the face of extended engagements is essential for the military to maintain its strength.
The conflict facing the United States today is not likely to dissipate in the future, Geren and General Casey warned. Rather, the violence is expected to persist, and even escalate, as instability threatens the Middle East.
"Looking ahead, we see an era of persistent conflict—protracted confrontation among state, non-state, and individual actors that are increasingly willing to use violence to achieve their political and ideological ends," Geren and Casey said in a joint statement. "In this era, the Army will continue to have a central role in providing full spectrum forces necessary to ensure our security."
Rather than facing the "persistent conflict" with the best Army the nation could have, the strain of the consistent demand on the forces has resulted in an imbalanced force, with limited flexibility and stressed soldiers.
"The demand for our forces over the last several years has exceeded the sustainable supply," the officials said. "It has stretched our soldiers and their families and has limited our flexibility in meeting other contingencies."
In order to address that problem the Army has worked to "meet the two critical challenges we face: restoring balance and setting conditions for the future."
They called on Congress for continued support to sustain the all-volunteer workforce.
"Seven years of combat have taken a great toll on the Army, our soldiers, and their families," Geren and Casey said.
While progress has been made in restoring balance, they warned that the Army still has "several tough years ahead."
"With the support of Congress, the Army will continue to protect America's national security interests while we transform ourselves to meet the challenges of today and the future," they added.
Geren and Casey praised noncommissioned officers in their statement. They noted that 2009 is the "Year of the Army NCO," stating that NCO's are the "glue holding our Army together in these challenging times."
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