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Since becoming secretary, I was shocked to find that our military has the potential to lag behind other major global powers, including China. Why? For decades, outdated processes and the expansion of bureaucracy have shackled our innovation and modernization efforts. If we continue to operate as usual, our national security will be at risk.
The gap between the army we have and the army we need is rapidly evolving. Our soldiers are innovative, resourceful and capable - they are the best in our country. But they are blocked by lobbyists and complacent stakeholders who prioritize class interests over the lethality and readiness of our soldiers.
No lobbyist has never crossed a mountain. No lobbyist has ever won a war. Our soldiers deserve better. And our country should be better. That's why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently directed the army to accelerate change.
Billions of dollars spent, wartime wait: broken purchase system inside the Pentagon and plans to repair it
We have to go to work immediately.
The Army is undergoing massive adjustments. Archives: Army soldiers from Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Raid), opened fire during a live fire at Fort Campbell, Kentucky on October 24, 2018. (Photo of Captain Justin Wright)
The Army Transformation Initiative (ATI) is how we can get rid of the deeply rooted government bureaucracy to bring our soldiers and beyond our opponents.
This is the way forward:
Hegseth
Our soldiers must surpass the enemies on the battlefield and defeat them. Today, they need drone and counter-drone capabilities, AI-powered decisions, and deadly combat vehicles and attack aircraft. We put these tools in the hands of soldiers not because of lack of vision, but because of outdated acquisition practices. It's over now. Our mission is clear: tailor the traditional tape festival, so we can quickly equip the troops with the best features.
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We will convey the American bold and innovative spirit not only in our words but also in our actions. We will drive market competition, late-led research and development by simplifying the process by placing users, testers and developers in the field. We will embrace the inertia of change and strike systems, keeping us agile, deadly, and ahead of our enemies.
For a long time, our hands have been bound by narrow interests supported by a large number of lobbyists. We are forced to buy equipment that we no longer need or need. With ATI, we will ensure that we use the hard-earned money of American taxpayers effectively. We will not buy if the ability no longer benefits our soldiers and does not make our army more deadly.
The Army could cut 90,000 soldiers as the Pentagon faces budget cuts and strategic reorganization: Report
We are transforming the army from scratch, not just upgrading our processes and equipment. We are building an organization that will drive process improvements to bring better products and better results to soldiers. First, we will merge organizations within the Army to eliminate layoffs and reduce bureaucracy overhead.
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We will refocus on combat formations by cutting elevated levels and cutting expenses from within Army Headquarters. We will bring our soldiers back to where they belong: train to dominate the battlefield and win the war.
Our soldiers and the American people should have an army that can fight any opponent anytime, anywhere. Under President Trump and Secretary Heggs, this is exactly what the Army Transformation Initiative will achieve.