Thomas W. Spoehr

Jun 5, 2024 | heritage.org | Thomas W. Spoehr

Each year, as Oct. 1 approaches, the Pentagon engages in a frenzied drive to spend all the operations and maintenance funding Congress has provided. Any funds not spent by Sept. 30 evaporate. Strangely enough, it’s by design. Congress stipulates that nearly 40% of the Defense Department’s budget must be fully spent by the end of the fiscal year or it’s lost.

Jan 23, 2024 | nationalinterest.org | Thomas W. Spoehr

Soon, in an annual rite of spring, Congress will summon Pentagon leaders to testify on the “posture” of their services, commands, and department. The hearings will explore how the President’s impending fiscal year 2025 budget request will or will not support the nation’s defense. Conducting dozens of such hearings requires thousands of hours of preparation and execution by Congress and the Pentagon. But in their current construct, the time is poorly spent.

Jan 22, 2024 | realcleardefense.com | Thomas W. Spoehr

ADM Charles Richard, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Thursday, April 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Soon, in an annual rite of spring, Congress will summon Pentagon leaders to testify on the “posture” of their services, commands, and department. The hearings will explore how the President’s impending fiscal year 2025 budget request will or will not support the nation’s defense.

Nov 28, 2023 | nationalinterest.org | Thomas W. Spoehr

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedInSubscribe to RSSPrintTopic: U.S. ArmyRegion: AmericasBlog Brand: The BuzzTags: U.S. ArmyMilitaryArmy RecruitmentRecruitingMake no mistake, fixing this problem won’t be easy nor cheap, but the alternative compromises the security of our nation. As the Army attempts to adjust its structure to a smaller size, some have bemoaned the service’s reported decision to reduce special operations force (SOF) units by three thousand soldiers.

Nov 28, 2023 | realcleardefense.com | Thomas W. Spoehr

As the Army attempts to adjust its structure to a smaller size, some have bemoaned the service’s reported decision to reduce special operations force (SOF) units by three thousand soldiers. Shrinking is always hard, and it’s hard to argue the utility of SOF across the spectrum of conflict. But these critics are missing the forest for the trees: the reason the Army must reduce its force structure is because they are losing the existential fight to recruit new soldiers.