Stryker the Cat's Meow

This interview with Army Chief Gen. Pete Schoomaker discusses the QDR, the FCS, and America's "Amazing Generation":

Critics said the defense review should have pulled the plug on expensive new programs designed for conventional wars, like the Future Combat System, and used the money to address irregular threats.

"I will tell you point blank the Future Combat System equipped brigade will be far more capable in the environment that we are now in than the heavy brigade it replaces. The FCS brigade will be 900 soldiers smaller than a heavy brigade, but it will have twice as many infantrymen. For instance, go to western Iraq--this kind of organization not only has the mobility, not only has the long-range precision, but it has the ability to surveil that area 24-7. "

And on the Stryker:

FCS brigades will be the right force to fight both conventional and irregular wars?

"Talk to anyone in Iraq, they think the [armored] Stryker brigade is the cat's meow. Well, the Future Combat System is going to be the Stryker brigade on steroids.
When I rode in the Strykers in December, two patrols I was with got hit by roadside bombs. The Strykers weren't damaged and the soldiers didn't blink--they just went after the triggerman.
Exactly. Think about that with increased lethality and increased survivability."

And our troops:

We had the greatest generation--now it's the amazing generation?

"I am impressed with them. We were over there [in Iraq] at Christmas. We were with the 3rd Infantry Division, just before they left. Staff Sgt. Jason Barr had just returned to his squad. He was wounded in April of last year. Over 130 holes in him. He rehabilitates, comes back to his squad. We re-enlisted the remainder of his squad with him. Four kids, two of whom we put Purple Hearts on. We asked them, "Why are you re-enlisting?" They said they want to be like Sergeant Barr. We've seen times where the armed forces have not been like this. This is an amazing bunch. "