AUSTIN — Since World War II, the U.S. has had the world's most capable military. However, have we lost some of that dominance?
As the name suggests, the purpose of the U.S. Army Futures Command -- which has now been in Austin for six months -- is to look to the future. It's going to be a major investment that involves time, money and many types of resources. Col. Patrick Seiber is the communication director for this new headquarters, and he said this will give a focus in one place that hasn't been there in the past.
"The reason that we have this is to provide a unity of command and a unity of effort for all things having to do with modernization of our Army," Seiber said. "This is not just a matter of equipment, but it's also a matter of the concepts and how we're going to do it."
While other departments in the Army are focusing on issues happening right now, Col. Patrick Seiber said the Army Futures Command will be developing the technology the next generation of our soldiers will use.
"We will be taking a look at how our soldiers will interface with technology and what our force should look like in the future because we have to look at it now to protect tomorrow's today," Seiber said.
Even without this center in the past, America has been widely regarded as having the strongest military in the world. The website Global Firepower -- which tracks defense-related information worldwide -- provides some context for why that is the case. The site created a global military strength ranking based on 55 factors including things such as weapon diversity, available manpower and a nation's financial stability. The U.S. is the top country. However, right below the United States is China and Russia.
"You can't look to potentially deter a competitor using the last war's techniques and equipment, so that's why we have to look ahead," Seiber said.
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Seiber said China and Russia improved their military by copying and using American technology, which many in the Army are worried about moving forward. Army Futures Command will develop technology other countries won't see on the battlefield any time soon.
"We want our forces to be so lethal and so dominant that no one would ever dare pick a fight with the United States," Seiber said. "If they do, then they will pay dearly."
The headquarter's first budget will kick in during October of 2019. The Department of Defense is preparing two budgets -- $700 billion and $733 billion. Lawmakers at the Capitol will debate how much to spend.
This is the second installment of a three-part series on the U.S. Army Futures Command.
Watch part two here.
You can watch part three on Friday, starting at 4:30 a.m.on KVUE Daybreak.