13 October 2014

In “Military Readiness in the Age of Complexity and Uncertainty,” LtGen George Flynn, USMC (ret), outlines how the U.S. has adapted to evolving security challenges and argues that to be successful and prepared for future conflicts of any kind, military training is key.  

When global security challenges and conflicts arise, the United States is the first to be called upon. When responding to these calls it is essential that the men and women in uniform have the tools and training they need to be successful.

The current threat environment is rapidly evolving, uncertain and highly complex. At the same time, the Department of Defense faces budgetary constraints that threaten readiness budgets.

With that in mind, LtGen Flynn reminds us, “History has shown that investing in training has been the one consistent edge that has enabled the U.S. to respond to unexpected changes in our security environment... it is the training of our forces, people and units that has allowed the U.S. to deal with unexpected security challenges.”

How can we expect the military to succeed against global threats if the significance and necessity of their training and readiness isn’t given priority? As Secretary Hagel has noted, “Our men and women signed up to be a part of... a team that trains, deploys and protects their country. We need to give them the opportunities and the resources they require to successfully accomplish the mission.”

About the Author:

LtGen George Flynn is formerly director for the Joint Force Development (J7), which provides leadership across the services for readiness, doctrine, education and training. During his more than 38 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, he has served numerous operational and managerial positions. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Regents of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies; he is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and has several masters' degrees in national security and international relations. 

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