What are the most cost effective and efficient ways our military could modernize itself?

2013-11-12T11:21:51-05:00

During the military's period of transition with an eye on funding shortages for the next ? years, what do you fellow Service Members feel would be the most cost effective and most efficient ways our military could modernize itself? Also, is there anything that the military is currently doing that you support or anything it is doing but needs MORE support and effort.

Key thinking points for this discussion could be:

Technical modernization (weapons, telecommunications, IT, engineering)
Social modernization
Education
Foreign policy
Uniforms

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Nov 13 at 2013 12:36 AM

2013-11-13T00:36:00-05:00

Soldiers already get an annual clothing allowance to replace worn out gear and uniforms - why not implement an "automations" allowance as well - for use in getting required automations (laptops, HDDs, etc)? I know how much extra the military spends due to contracting requirements to go through CHESS and specific vendors in order to upgrade automations systems each year - and it's not pretty. However, if the military would issue automations allowances (say, $700?) annually, it could then stop buying high-end laptops at 200% mark-up and save about $1300 per system/per year.

When a post NEC charges $10,000 to provide and maintain 1TB of shared drive space for one year, something is wrong with our technological purchasing systems.

This is only somewhat "tongue-in-cheek"...

Response by SGT Thomas Sullivan made Nov 13 at 2013 4:32 PM

2013-11-13T16:32:59-05:00

I definitely see your point in automation allowances. There were times back in 53rd where we wished we could just go out and buy some computers or build them ourselves with parts from new egg and use those. They would still be in spec and could be updated fully to IA certification levels needed for their uses.

We trying to get 7-8 inch tablet PC's developed and to the soldier now. Cac card access is the big hurdle with that effort right now, but I see no reason that it could not be hurdled easily. Especially on the Android/Windows platform.

Response by CPT Mike M. made Nov 13 at 2013 5:07 PM

2013-11-13T17:07:03-05:00

Right now we're coming out of a decade of war and the deployment opportunities are slowing down. Shortly, after people ETS or retire and a plethora of new Soldiers come in we're going to be back to a status where most of the Army will be without combat experience. Personally I love being at the tip of the technological spear but given our budget, I think significant cuts need to be made on change (uniform updates, rifle testing, air and anti-air weapons upgrades that are already the best in the world, etc) and put that money toward training. While we still have vets, we need to fund the hell out of imparting their knowledge into the new, incoming generation so they can learn from our strengths and weaknesses.