“Can you feel the strain? The Army wants more troops. The Air Force wants more money and new planes. The Navy wants more ships and is battling over what to do with the fleet that it has. And the Marines – well the Corps isn’t sure what comes next, but they’re staying in the fight.”

“Spend big, fight small. Be ready to roll everywhere, but stay out of a big war anywhere. Destroy the Islamic State, check down Russia and China, prepare for nuclear war, buy long-range bombers, defend cyber networks and satellites, patrol the seas, and expand covert special ops missions to capture and kill Islamic State leaders. And while you’re at it, modernize the workforce, open up to women, honor commitments to families, and do a better job connecting with the American public.”

This comprehensive report by Defense One is an assessment of the year ahead and what each of the military services needs to field a force to protect our nation. Read Special Report: State of Defense 2016 (January 2016).