Abstract: This article argues that the US Army remains dangerously optimized for counterinsurgency, leaving it ill-equipped for a high-intensity ground war against near-peer adversaries like Russia and China. Unlike standard modernization literature that focuses solely on technology, this analysis highlights how bloated staffs and personnel policies that prioritise equity over battlefield excellence undermine combat readiness. The analysis evaluates 2026 force-structure projections against current personnel metrics and acquisition timelines to identify systemic readiness gaps. The findings provide military and policy practitioners with actionable frameworks to reallocate personnel resources and address critical gaps in field artillery, electronic warfare and short-range air defense before a major conflict occurs.
Note on the author: Dr. Richard D. Hooker, Jr. is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council, following previous service as University Professor, Distinguished Research Fellow and The Theodore Roosevelt Chair in National Security Affairs at the National Defense University.
Photo credit: Eduard Delputte on Unsplash