Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno has established five priorities for the service as it a transitions over the next five years from an environment of conflict to a more peaceful but complex and uncertain environment with the expectation of a smaller force and more financial constraints.

The number one priority until 2014 will be for a trained, equipped and ready force for Afghanistan, Odierno said yesterday at the Association of the United States Army Institute for Land Warfare breakfast.

The way ahead will be guided by the White House’s recently released strategic guidance, and the Army’s role will be guided by the ability to prevent conflict, shape the environment and if prevention fails, dominate the environment and win decisively, Odierno said.

The transition to the Joint Force 2020 will be informed by such things as: the lessons learned over the past decade, sustaining the close integration of special operation forces and the conventional force, rapid equipment fielding, the effective massing of lethal and non-lethal effects, and a unity of effort that includes the military, other government agencies, coalition forces, and a host of others.  

A second priority is to develop the Army of the future as part of the Joint Force 2020, a “versatile mix of capabilities, formations and equipment,” he said.

Next is to retain and sustain the all-volunteer Army of soldiers, civilians and families in the active and reserve components.

The fourth priority is to fine-tune and develop adaptable leaders who “thrive in complex environment,” and the fifth priority is to reinvigorate a commitment to the profession of arms, “a noble and selfless calling founded on the bedrock of trust,” he said.

These priorities also are part of the just published, “Marching Orders, 28th Chief of Staff, U.S. Army.” This documents much of Odierno’s thoughts, concerns and priorities moving forward.

The Marching Orders set out Odierno’s intent: “to sustain a high-quality All-Volunteer Army that remains the most decisive land force in the world; provides depth and versatility to the Joint Force; is agile, responsive and effective for Combatant Commanders; and ensures flexibility for national security decision-makers in defense of the nation at home and abroad.”

To sustain credibility and the all-volunteer Army, the service has to look at the capability it needs and what it can afford.

The 2012 Defense Authorization Act reflects Army modernization priorities, he said.

Those priorities are: the network; a mobile, lethal and survivable fighting vehicle replacement; a modernized tactical wheeled vehicle; a network-ready Joint Light Tactical Vehicle that protects troops, is maneuverable and brings soldiers where they need to be, and building a squad, as a formation, a team, not group of individualsthat is a trained and equipped team that has overmatch in the future.

The fifth modernization priority is to improve the service’s energy posture. “This will help enhance our combat capabilities in theater by reducing logistical footprint…” and is critical in reducing energy needs in the face of reduced budgets.

Modernization also requires streamlining the acquisition process, Odierno said.

The Army is moving to a leaner, more agile force of soldiers with the depth, capability and capacity to step up for combatant commanders as part of Joint Force 2020, he said.