Rob--getting divisions back through retention incentives sounds good. But the force structure you propose of two mech battalions and one armor might not be what we want. We have divisions so structured. How about a pair of true motorized light infantry divisions with heavy wheeled vehicles for both APC and fire support use? Isn't that what the Stryker vehicle is all about? I'm a little fuzzy on current procurement, so forgive me. All I am suggesting is that a lighter, track-less force might be just as mobile in most environments, just as survivable in low intensity operations, and far easier and faster to deploy...

My views are mixed. I was a platoon leader at the end of the last draft period (and beginning of the infamous VOLAR). It was just as the Army was expanding to 18 active divisions. The problems we had with low education levels, drugs, etc., negated a good portion of the additional strength. I and my NCOs spent more time dealing with "troubled" soldiers than with training. We do not need a draft, what we need are better retention incentives. We are spending all kinds of money getting new soldiers, but very little on retaining the ones we have trained As for forces overseas, we are now relying heavily on the ARNG and USAR for duty in the Balkans, I know, my unit has processed many of them thru Ft. Benning. I started in the Army Reserve in 1987 and we were barely recognized as existing. I or members of the units to which I have been assigned have been mobilized a half dozen times since Clinton got us into the Balkans in '95. I now have 56 MPs on active duty at Ft. Benning because of 911. The US military is over-extended when the reserve components are pulling as many deployment days as the active component. DJ - I thought only the 2nd ID was watching North Korea, who else is over their? Ramble -OFF #:-)

Jeff

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My views are mixed. I was a platoon leader at the end of the last draft period (and beginning of the infamous VOLAR). It was just as the Army was expanding to 18 active divisions. The problems we had with low education levels, drugs, etc., negated a good portion of the additional strength. I and my NCOs spent more time dealing with "troubled" soldiers than with training. We do not need a draft, what we need are better retention incentives. We are spending all kinds of money getting new soldiers, but very little on retaining the ones we have trained As for forces overseas, we are now relying heavily on the ARNG and USAR for duty in the Balkans, I know, my unit has processed many of them thru Ft. Benning. I started in the Army Reserve in 1987 and we were barely recognized as existing. I or members of the units to which I have been assigned have been mobilized a half dozen times since Clinton got us into the Balkans in '95. I now have 56 MPs on active duty at Ft. Benning because of 911. The US military is over-extended when the reserve components are pulling as many deployment days as the active component. DJ - I thought only the 2nd ID was watching North Korea, who else is over their? Ramble -OFF #:-)

Jeff

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Jeff--the current location of US Army division is no secret, so I am not divluging anything about guarded National Security matters. In the Pacific, you have the 2nd Infantry with two brigades in Korea and one (now transforming into the Interim Brigade Combat Team IBCT) at Fort Lewis. The other Pacific division is the 25th Infantry in Hawaii with two brigades and the third at Fort Lewis, Washington. The Lewis brigade is also transforming into the IBCT. In Europe you have the 1st Infantry and 1st Armored each with two brigades while their respective third brigades' are at Fort Riley, Kansas. In the US, we have the 3rd Infantry at Fort Stewart, Georgia and their third brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia. At Fort Hood, Texas, you have the three brigades of the 1st Cavalry (the best in the Army) and two brigades of the 4th Infantry. Their third brigade is at Fort Carson along with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. At Fort Bragg, North Carolina is the 82nd Airborne with three brigades while Fort Campbell, Kentucky has the three brigades of the 101st Airborne. I think that is everyone. We also have five active (1,3, 5,7, and 10th) Special Forces Groups and three Rangers Battalions. As my Brother In Arms, Rob, correctly pointed out, you kinda get run ragged real quick doing housekeeping, training, and deployments. Hope this assist in the discussion.
DJ