New Army Chief of Staff Eyes Big Changes

The day after he became chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Martin Dempsey was given an in-depth assessment of the state of the Army he took over. It was not a pretty picture, according to an Army Times story.

The report, assembled by a transition team of 20 hand-picked officers and NCOs, described an Army where:
• Tension exists among military and civilian leaders.
• Many soldiers lack training and discipline.
• Concerns about future deployments and budget cuts weigh heavily on senior leaders.
• Soldiers are promoted before they are ready for the next rank.
The Army Transition Team's April 12 report, titled "What we heard ... ," is a compilation of findings from anonymous surveys conducted with the Army's leaders, soldiers and families.