America is in a position, where she faces obstacles in every direction. Often it seems at the root of the obstaces are monetary fiscal barriers. The United States currently faces a trillion dollar defacit, and this requires us to make defense decisions that are efficient and adequate to maintain the security of homeland and national interests.
The technology that we have today makes the total force concept work. The military technology today bridges the gap between the different branches and within each services facilitating information sharing allowing us to effectively work in unison to achieve mission success.
Septermber 11, 2001 brought the country closer together and drew up the attention at other nations that they are succeptable to such terrorists attacks as well.
The Total Force Concept keeps continuity at one station for a longer period of time. This ensures knowledge stays at one base and can be passed on from member to member during training and day-to-day operations. A reserveist will stay at a duty location for 10 years or longer and an Active Duty member will typically stay at a base for 4 years.
A barrier to the integration of the service members is the differences in training requirements amongst the reservists, guardsman, and active duty members. There are differences in training requirements when not activated. This shortfall in training commitments by the guardsman and reservists hinders the nations warfighting readieness. In order to ensure an adequate national defense, we must be postured to respond to our nations call at all times.