The U.S. Army in the 21st century

Afghanistan and the war on terrorism

The assaults on September 11, 2001, demonstrated asymmetrical warfare, against which conventional forces of the 20th century were ill-prepared. Because of this, the CIA took the initiative in Afghanistan at first, overthrowing the Taliban government that provided shelter to al-Qaeda by utilising local tribesmen as a force multiplier. Afghanistan was viewed in certain respects as “the forgotten war” when President George W. Bush’s government moved its attention to Iraq in 2003. The Taliban took advantage of this lull to reorganise and strengthen itself, while the surviving American forces helped with “nation-building” operations. Lessons from the Iraq conflict were taken to Afghanistan by militants as the conflict came to an end in 2009, and American losses increased dramatically.

President Barack Obama approved a “surge” of 30,000 more soldiers in 2009–10, which gave Afghan forces the chance to recover and eventually take on some of the security responsibilities. On December 28, 2014, the United States and NATO formally terminated their combat operation in Afghanistan, even though an international presence of over 10,000 troops remained in the nation in an advising capacity.

The Iraq War

Returned to Iraq in March 2003, the number of US soldiers was significantly fewer than in 1991, reflecting a “light footprint” approach with a focus on technological superiority.

• The “shock and awe” bombing at the start of the conflict showcased the coalition’s technological advantage, despite Iraqi resistance.
• With the Ba’th Party eliminated from power, Iraq struggled to maintain law and order, leading to increased criminal activity and sectarian violence.
• Unable to find WMDs, US soldiers intervened in a civil conflict between Sunni and Shia factions, leading to increased casualties and recruitment challenges.
• A troop “surge” was released in 2007 to deal with worsening security, in all likelihood contributing to decreased violence.
• By December 2011, almost 4,500 Americans had died and about 30,000 were injured, mostly from the army.
• The conflicts prompted changes, including replacing the M16 rifle with the M4 carbine, better suited for close-quarters combat and patrol doctrine.

More than a year before the Declaration of Independence, on June 14, 1775, the U.S. Army was formally established, and it has since been essential to the expansion and advancement of the American people. After a difficult eight-year battle with Great Britain, it achieved the independence of the new republic by drawing on both long-standing militia traditions and recently adopted professional standards.

In this article, we will discuss the history, battles, branches of the United States Armed Forces, and much more!