What do you think of the Army's RAF Strategy?

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 00:08:00 -0500

Have you heard of this? I read an interesting article about GEN Odierno's Regionally Aligned Forces (RAF) strategy at Foreign Policy.

What is your opinion of the RAF strategy? Just the newest hood ornament? The latest "strategy" to maintain the Army's legitimacy? Or is this the real deal? Something that will outlive GEN Odierno's time as Chief of Staff?

Please read the article before answering: http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/05/08/portrait-of-the-army-as-a-work-in-progress

What is your opinion of the Army RAF strategy?

Portrait of the Army as a Work in Progress

The service's plan to revamp itself for the post-post-9/11 world is ambiguous and rife with contradiction. That's what makes it brilliant.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 27 at 2014 12:32 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 00:32:30 -0500

Does this mean that soldiers won't PCS as much since they are expected to become experts in one region?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 12:41 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 00:41:44 -0500

As a commander in a BDE which is regionally aligned with PACOM, it makes sense. Are we prepared to take it to any enemy anywhere...hell yeah. What this does is provide us with a focus that we can sink our teeth into and provides a Combatant Commander (PACOM, and this USARPAC) with a force that he can task (through FORSCOM) to support mil-to-mil engagement throughout his AOR. There are two other brigades aligned with PACOM and we all have rotational duties in mil-to-mil engagements and we focus our regional studies in LPD's on the subject. It gives the S2 shop something to dig into and share with our leaders. It provides something for Troop Commanders to talk with their young NCO's and Troopers about. Does this mean that our only area of focus is PACOM...no...but it's something to grab a hold of. It's a good thing.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 3:13 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 03:13:54 -0500

Should be the real deal. I doubt it will ever get the traction that it needs to truly move forward.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2014 7:41 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 07:41:49 -0500

I wonder if this attention paid by the Army to regional cultures helped push the word "culture" over the top in the Merriam-Webster word of the year competition.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/2014-word-of-the-year/culture.html

2014 Word of the Year: Culture

Here's What this Year's Top Look-ups Say About Us

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Dec 27 at 2014 4:50 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 16:50:12 -0500

This is the real deal and makes perfect sense....it is part of my unit mission to ensure this mission is successful