We should not forgo our expertise in conventional war, but current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have made clear the need for more substantial unconventional capabilities. We must provide our troops with the training necessary for these operations and structure our force to best confront them.
A 2008 CAP report called “Building a Military for the 21st Century” recommends sustaining the increased size of the ground forces and expanding the number of maneuver enhancement brigades, which are capable of carrying out both support and counterinsurgency missions. Both of these measures will increase our ability to provide the right skills for today’s engagements.
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