JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With the U.S. military involved in several parts of the world, retired Army Col. Chris Budihas says there’s a bigger question to consider: How prepared are we if another conflict breaks out?
Budihas spoke on In Depth with Kristine Bellino about U.S. military readiness, the conflict with Iran, drones and some of the challenges the military is facing right now.
Replacing what we use takes time
One of Budihas’ main concerns is how quickly the U.S. can replace ammunition and equipment being used overseas.
He explained that military readiness isn’t something the country can simply turn on when it needs it.
“It’s not something you can just say, ‘Hey, I’m going to go to Boeing and say, produce me 100 aircraft by next week,’” Budihas said.
There are several things that can slow that process down, including supply chain problems, worker shortages and how much manufacturers can actually produce at one time.
Budihas said the U.S. has been using a significant amount of ammunition and air defense weapons during the conflict with Iran. At the same time, the country has military commitments in other parts of the world, including equipment promised to Taiwan.
His point is that what happens in one part of the world can affect how prepared the U.S. is somewhere else.
“If you get fixated geographically in one location, it’s got implications worldwide to our security posture,” Budihas said.
Drones are changing how wars are fought
Drones were another major part of the conversation.
Budihas talked about a recent training exercise involving Ukrainian drone operators and U.S. forces. He said the results showed how much damage drones can do and how much the U.S. still has to learn about defending against them.
But he also cautioned against thinking drones are going to replace everything else on the battlefield.
“It’s not all about the drone,” Budihas said.
He said troops, traditional military operations and ways to stop enemy drones are still important.
Questions about military leadership
Budihas also talked about leadership changes and military officials who are currently serving in acting positions while waiting for Senate confirmation.
He said that doesn’t mean the military suddenly stops functioning. There are systems in place for someone else to take over when a position becomes vacant.
“The Army is built as an organization to have a succession of command,” Budihas said.
Still, he said leadership changes and political disagreements can become a concern when the military is already dealing with conflicts and security challenges around the world.
The conversation eventually came back to a simple question: Is the U.S. winning?
Budihas said he doesn’t like using the words “winning” or “victory” when talking about modern wars and conflicts.
“As of right now, I don’t know,” he said.
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