Survey: Senior officers gloomy about military

[unhappycamper]

Survey: Senior officers gloomy about military
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 20, 2008 5:35:19 EST

A new survey of more than 3,400 active and retired field-grade officers finds an alarmingly downcast view of the state of the U.S. military, with 60 percent saying the nation’s armed forces are weaker than they were 5 years ago and 88 percent saying the war in Iraq has stretched the military “dangerously thin.”

The greatest concern was expressed over the ground forces, which are bearing the brunt of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The survey, jointly conducted by the respected magazine Foreign Policy and the Center for a New American Security, a Washington, D.C., think tank, measured the opinions of officers holding the rank of major or lieutenant commander and above. About 35 percent of the respondents were from the Army, 33 percent from the Air Force, 23 percent from the Navy and 8 percent from the Marine Corps. More than 200 were flag officers, and 81 percent had served more than 20 years.

Most of the active-duty respondents were students at senior-level military schools such as the Army War College. Two-thirds had combat experience, but only 10 percent had served in Iraq, Afghanistan or both.

Other survey findings were equally troubling. Asked if they agreed or disagreed with the statement, “Torture is never acceptable,” 44 percent disagreed and 53 percent agreed.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/military_survey_officers_080219w/

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Not much honor in being commanded by a National Guard deserter." - Officers