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The US is yet to lose a war. Their military has almost no true equal in the world, and all confrontations they have been a part of have been won so decisively that they are hardly considered to be wars. Few other countries in the world can boast of this level of military sophistication. What causes this sophistication, and how easy is it for other countries to replicate it?
1. Decentralized leadership as an aspect of culture—perhaps the most significant difference between US and Western armies in general and those of other parts of the world is the decentralization of leadership and emphasis on individual effort. Soldiers in all branches of the military are encouraged to be creative and innovative. This promotes a culture of excellence and competence where the best people end up in charge. In most parts of Asia and the Middle East, militaries are highly centralized silos where decision-making power is reserved for the highest levels. Innovation and creativity cannot thrive in such settings, which more often than not place incompetent people in charge.
2. High defense budgets that are wisely used—the hundreds of billions the US spends on defense each year don’t get wasted on bureaucracy or white elephant projects that generate little value in the long term. Defense projects and proposals are usually carefully scrutinized to identify ones that would be most impactful to the country’s long-term defense strategy. Only crucial projects are funded, and a very thorough selection process for contractors is used to ensure projects are successfully implemented. This continuous spending on high-value defense projects has eventually made the US the most advanced military power as far as technology is concerned. Almost no other country has consistently spent as much on defense.
3. Operational Flexibility—unlike all other militaries, the US is one of the few countries that can boast of strength all across the board. The infantry, navy, and air force are all equally strong. Both the US Air Force and Navy are among the largest in the world. Each branch also works in coordination with other branches, which overall creates a very formidable force with unparalleled capabilities.
4. Recruitment and Training—Highly advanced training programs that prepare soldiers for complex missions also set the US apart militarily when compared to most other countries. For each branch of the military, a specialized training program is usually in place that focuses on core competencies soldiers will need in the field. Recruitment, especially for leadership positions, is usually done in a way that prioritizes competence. Non-commissioned officers, who are military recruits that rise up the ranks to leadership positions, are provided with highly comprehensive training that encompasses multiple aspects of their fields as well as other fields that are closely related to their work. Soldiers are as a result highly skilled, which improves their decision-making and makes them more effective on the field.
4. Technology—the fact that the US is the global military technology leader is no accident. The US defense industry complex is made up of giant private firms that spend hundreds of millions each year on refining existing technologies and building new ones that can give the country an edge in any combat scenario. All this technology first goes to the US Army, and foreign sales are only made to approved countries. As of today, many of the military tech capabilities the US has are not available in any other country. This gives it a decided advantage in any confrontation.
5. Allies—the US rarely goes to war alone. Powerful Western allies usually provide backup. This improves the overall strength of their efforts and puts maximum pressure on their enemies as they are getting hit from all sides. Alliances also act as an effective deterrent, discouraging enemies from attacking or responding even when attacked.
The US and many Western armies are well-oiled machines that have quite high chances of coming out on top in any confrontation. Continued emphasis on excellence has made them so formidable that almost no foreign force can really match them strength for strength.
