From the patterns that I have observed, it seems to me that more is going on here than mere capitulation to political fads. It looks like they are deliberately trying to push people out of the armed forces that are not likely to be ideologically loyal (e.g. southern white males) to the “new regime,” and eventually have an army that is ideologically and personally loyal to the state, but is comprised of incompetent morons who are really just a glorified soccer team rather than an army, albeit one that keeps defense contractor profits coming in.
Meanwhile, in foreign policy, they seem to be gradually outsourcing “imperial functions” to client states, allies, proxy armies, etc. For instance, farming out the Syrian war to Erdogan, trying to reestablish the Cold War-era alliance with the Taliban, strengthening the Sunni-Israeli alliance in the Middle East and North Africa, making greater use of Japan’s navy, etc. I’ve noticed many such patterns in recent years. It’s almost like they want to gut the US military and simply use foreign forces as de facto mercenaries instead. That’s more or less what Rome did in its later period.
The Vietnam War had the effect of souring Americans on foreign military expeditions to the point that it made the draft politically impossible, and Americans unwilling to accept war if it means any sacrifices on their own side (high casualties, special war taxes, rationing of goods like fuel, etc.). So the system moved toward relying on a professional military and financing war with debt instead. Now, after the debacles of the past 20 years, most Americans won’t accept even that. The system is increasingly relying on mercenaries and foreign clients, along with elite fighters like the Special Forces.
By Steve Beynon, Military.Com
More than seven months after the official launch of the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, nearly half of female soldiers are still falling short, with enlisted women struggling the most, Military.com has learned. The data again raises questions about whether the Army‘s attempt to create a fitter force is creating more barriers to success for women.
Internal Army figures from April show 44% of women failed the ACFT, compared to 7% of men since Oct. 1. “Female soldiers continue to lag male soldier scores in all events,” according to a United States Army Forces Command briefing obtained by Military.com.
