The United States faces extraordinary challenges on both the strategic and operational levels. At the strategic level, the national security environment is in flux and many of the structures, concepts, and methods of the past no longer apply to the conditions we now face. Containment, the alliance system, our military doctrine, and many other elements of national security policy were not designed for prolonged struggle with militant Islam, an ascendant China, a Russia which is no longer a containable super power enemy but a rival for influence at America's expense, a decline in American influence, and a sharply divided American polity. Generals Zeb Bradford and Frederic Brown, co-authors of the highly influential book on the U.S. military in Vietnam, U.S. Army in Transition, have teamed up again to discuss the need for a new era of transition within the Armed Forces. Bradford and Brown point to the current war in Iraq, a lack of interagency competence across the national government, and the botched disaster relief efforts of Katrina as glaring examples of the failure of America's Army to adapt to present-day challenges. Given the rapid and dramatic changes throughout the world, the authors stress how selective adaptation of specific programs and procedures can contribute to improving policy execution within and across all facets of government, including the armed forces. Yet this adaptation to change must be institutionalized, requiring the Army to become a constantly evolving learning organization. Only within this context can the army manage to act on the myriad demands of the day including taking the leadership in international cooperation, fighting the amorphous enemy of "The Long War" against terrorism, responding effectively to disaster scenarios, and engaging in stabilization and reconstruction efforts around the world.

Bradford (former senior military fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations and resident scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars) and Brown (a retired Lt. General working as "Senior Mentor establishing Teams of Leaders" in the US European Command) previously collaborated on The U.S. Army in Transition (1973) about rebuilding the army after Vietnam. Here they team up again to warn that the US Army once again faces profound institutional challenges and to provide advice on how to overcome them. Their emphasis is on fashioning the army as a learning organization and they argue that their recommendations can also be applied across government in an effort to improve interagency effectiveness. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Much greater effectiveness in the execution of national security policy is one of the most urgent requirements facing the U.S. Bradford and Brown propose unique solutions to achieving this goal in the complex international environment we face. They offer compelling arguments for improving performance across the government at all levels by building upon the distinctive capabilities available in the active and reserve components of America's Army. This major contribution to deliberations on national security policy should be read by both military and civilian leaders throughout our security establishment, both intl and domestic.General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. Army, Retired

A timely, comprehensive, and thought-provoking examination of America's Army that celebrates individual, leader, and unit efforts to adapt and learn. Full of thoughtful and challenging recommendations for building teams and learning organizations--not just in the Army but in the greater national and international security arenas, as well. A must read for military and civilian leaders at all levels who are striving to ensure that our country is prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.David H. Petraeus, General, United States Army

There's no book like this in scope and insight. It is the fundamental starting-point for anyone seriously interested in the Army and national security today.Gen. Wesley Clark, U.S. Army, Retired

21st Century security issues will require 21st Century solutions and Bradford and Brown have done much to attack an issue that requires the nation's immediate attention. Interagency coordination and authorities, homeland security responsibilities, organization for internal and external defense, roles and missions for our reserve components and the all important aspect of leader training and education are examined in America's Army in a way that few have done before. This thoughtful work deserves the careful consideration of both soldiers and civilians who grapple with the difficult challenges ahead.John Abizaid, General, United States Army, Retired Former Commander Central Command

A serious study on a serious subject, which more than deserves serious consideration.Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives

Outlines the changes that the U.S. military must undergo to meet the new demands of national security policy.

The United States faces extraordinary challenges on both the strategic and operational levels. At the strategic level, the national security environment is in flux and many of the structures, concepts, and methods of the past no longer apply to the conditions we now face. Containment, the alliance system, our military doctrine, and many other elements of national security policy were not designed for prolonged struggle with militant Islam, an ascendant China, a Russia which is no longer a containable super power enemy but a rival for influence at America's expense, a decline in American influence, and a sharply divided American polity. Generals Zeb Bradford and Frederic Brown, co-authors of the highly influential book on the U.S. military in Vietnam, U.S. Army in Transition, have teamed up again to discuss the need for a new era of transition within the Armed Forces.

ZEB B. BRADFORD, JR. (Brig. Gen., U.S. Army, Retired) is a business consultant and national security analyst. A graduate of West Point, he taught politics and economics at the Military Academy. He is also a graduate of Harvard University's Graduate School of Government and of its Senior Executive Seminar on National and Intl Security. He was Senior Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Resident Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Intl Center for Scholars. A highly-decorated combat arms officer, he served in numerous command and staff positions in the United States, Vietnam, Korea, and Europe, including service as head of strategic planning at NATO headquarters in Belgium. He is a widely published author on national security affairs, co-authoring with Frederic Brown the influential United States Army in Transition on the rebuilding of the Army after Vietnam.FREDERIC J. BROWN (Lt. Gen., U.S. Army, Retired) is currently Senior Mentor for establishing Knowledge Management in the U.S. European Command. He received his doctorate, as a West Point Olmsted Scholar, from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. As a military officer he commanded army units at virtually every level in the United States, Germany, and Vietnam, including as Chief of Armor and Cavalry where he was deeply involved in rebuilding the American armored forces prior to Desert Storm. He has also served in the Office of the Army Chief of Staff, the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the National Security Council Staff and the West Wing White House staff. He is co-author, with Zeb Bradford, of United States Army in Transition and author of the subsequent The United States Army in Transition II: Landpower in the Information Age.

Foreword: Competence and Capability in National Security

Chapter I: National Security in a World Transformed

Chapter II: The Long War War

Chapter III: Americas Army Today

Chapter IV: Sustaining Excellence - The Volunteer Force

Chapter V: Improved Responsiveness as a Learning Organization

Chapter VI: Imperatives for Tomorrow Organizational Adaptation to Continuing Change

Chapter VII: Teams of Leaders An Implementation Force Multiplier

Chapter VIII: Homeland Defense First Responding

Chapter IX: Hedges Planning for the Contingent

Chapter X: Conclusions