(Tribune News Service) — Army leaders discussed new uniforms, training and other issues during a virtual town hall meeting last week.
The forum, featuring Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler, was broadcast live on YouTube.
Two groups of soldiers at Fort Bragg participated, including the 82nd Airborne Division and U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
The questions ran a fairly wide range.
Odierno said the Army will switch to the MutliCam uniform most associated with current deployments to Afghanistan but urged patience for those waiting on the Army Combat Uniform to be replaced.
He and Chandler addressed a pilot program that allows women to attend Ranger School.
In response to an 82nd Airborne question, Odierno said the Army is "totally dedicated" to increasing training budgets.
Odierno said the Army has to be ready for a dynamic world that "won't get easier."
In the past, there was a fairly predictable rotation to Iraq or Afghanistan, he said.
But in today's world, units could be deployed anywhere in the world and are found on five continents.
"That's changed," Odierno said. "You have to be prepared to deploy anywhere."
Odierno also urged patience in Iraq and Syria. He said defeating insurgents will be a two- to three-year process "at least" and urged caution for those worried about U.S. troops being thrust into combat roles.
"It's their nation, and they need to be the ones to fight for it," Odierno said.
Odierno said the Army needs to be at a higher readiness level than in years past because of the world's uncertainty and the shrinking force.
He acknowledged past training issues related to a lack of funding but said the Army is making progress, although he also said the force is two or three years away from where it needs to be.
"We're better than we were last year," he said.
On women in Ranger School, Odierno and Chandler said it is important that standards not change.
"Whether it's male or female, for us, that doesn't matter," Chandler said.
On the topic of other female units, they said they will look into the state of Cultural Support Teams. Those teams, small groups of female soldiers who are often attached to special operations forces, were used with success in Iraq and Afghanistan.
But training and selection have been limited with those wars shrinking.
Odierno called the teams "invaluable."
"They really did an incredible job both in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said.
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©2015 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.)
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