This chapter is about the armed forces. It says China is the biggest danger. It wants the military built up and better armed. It also wants big changes to who can serve. It asks for more ships, more soldiers, and more planes. And it asks to end training programs it does not like.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, DODHow: internal managementp. 93 in the PDF
What the document says
“Prioritize a denial defense against China. U.S. defense planning should focus on China and, in particular, the effective denial defense of Taiwan.”
The chapter states that China is the most significant danger to American security and that the most severe immediate threat is to Taiwan and allies along the first island chain. It asks that all defense efforts focus on prevailing in that scenario, and that conventional force planning be set to defeat a Chinese invasion of Taiwan before resources are allocated to other missions such as fighting a second conflict at the same time.
What the document actually says
“Prioritize a denial defense against China. U.S. defense planning should focus on China and, in particular, the effective denial defense of Taiwan.”
That sentence, in plain words
Put China first. Defense plans should aim to stop China taking Taiwan.
What this is about
Taiwan is an island near China. China says it belongs to China. The book says stopping that should come first. It says other war plans should come second.
The document says “must”Who acts: President, DODHow: internal managementp. 94 in the PDF
What the document says
“Transform NATO so that U.S. allies are capable of fielding the great majority of the conventional forces required to deter Russia”
The chapter says allies must take far greater responsibility for their conventional defense, and proposes that European allies field the great majority of conventional forces needed to deter Russia while relying on the United States mainly for the nuclear deterrent and selected other capabilities, with a reduced American force posture in Europe. It also proposes enabling South Korea to lead its own conventional defense and sustaining support for Israel while Gulf partners take on their own air and missile defense.
What the document actually says
“Transform NATO so that U.S. allies are capable of fielding the great majority of the conventional forces required to deter Russia”
That sentence, in plain words
Change NATO so allies supply most of the troops needed to hold off Russia.
What this is about
NATO is a group of countries that defend each other. The book says Europe should supply most of the troops. The United States would keep its nuclear weapons there. It would send fewer soldiers.
The document says “must”Who acts: President, DODHow: internal managementp. 95 in the PDF
What the document says
“Expand and modernize the U.S. nuclear force so that it has the size, sophistication, and tailoring to deter Russia and China simultaneously.”
The chapter states that Russia maintains and brandishes a large nuclear arsenal while China is undertaking what it calls a historic nuclear breakout, and asks for an arsenal sized and tailored to deter both at once, including new capabilities at the theatre level, so that there is no circumstance in which America is exposed to serious nuclear coercion.
What the document actually says
“Expand and modernize the U.S. nuclear force so that it has the size, sophistication, and tailoring to deter Russia and China simultaneously.”
That sentence, in plain words
Grow the nuclear force. Make it big enough to hold off Russia and China at the same time.
What this is about
The United States keeps nuclear weapons to stop attacks. The book says Russia has many and China is building more. It says America needs more of them too.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, DODHow: internal managementp. 103 in the PDF
What the document says
“Reinstate servicemembers to active duty who were discharged for not receiving the COVID vaccine, restore their appropriate rank, and provide back pay.”
The chapter asks that servicemembers discharged for refusing the COVID vaccine be returned to active duty at their appropriate rank and paid for the intervening period. The vaccine requirement is one of the policies the chapter says has taken a toll on the armed forces.
What the document actually says
“Reinstate servicemembers to active duty who were discharged for not receiving the COVID vaccine, restore their appropriate rank, and provide back pay.”
That sentence, in plain words
Bring back the troops who were let go for refusing the COVID shot. Give them their rank back. Pay them for the time they lost.
What this is about
Troops were told to get a COVID shot. Some said no. They were made to leave. The book says they should get their jobs back. It says they should get their old rank and their missed pay.
The chapter asked that these servicemembers be reinstated at their appropriate rank with back pay. This order directs that reinstatement be made available. Whether rank and back pay follow in each case is a matter of implementation and is not settled by the order's text.
The document says “should”Who acts: DODHow: internal managementp. 103 in the PDF
What the document says
“those with gender dysphoria should be expelled from military service”
In a passage on entrance criteria, the chapter says exceptions for individuals predisposed to require medical treatment should be removed, giving those who are HIV positive and those with gender dysphoria as its two examples, and says those with gender dysphoria should be expelled from service. It adds that physical fitness requirements should be based on the occupational field without regard to gender, race, ethnicity or orientation.
What the document actually says
“those with gender dysphoria should be expelled from military service”
That sentence, in plain words
People who have gender dysphoria should have to leave the armed forces.
What this is about
Gender dysphoria is a medical term. It is used when a person feels their body does not match who they are. The book says people with it should not serve. It says those already serving should be removed.
The chapter went further than reversing the service policy: it asked that those with gender dysphoria be expelled from service. This order directs a change to medical standards; what follows for serving members is not established by the order alone.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, DODHow: internal managementp. 104 in the PDF
What the document says
“Reverse policies that allow transgender individuals to serve in the military.”
The chapter says gender dysphoria is incompatible with the demands of military service and that the use of public money for transgender surgeries, or to facilitate abortion for servicemembers, should be ended. This entry and the one on expelling those with gender dysphoria appear in the same run of recommendations and overlap.
What the document actually says
“Reverse policies that allow transgender individuals to serve in the military.”
That sentence, in plain words
Undo the rules that let trans people serve. They should not be allowed in.
What this is about
Transgender people are allowed to serve now. The book says that rule should be undone. It also says public money should not pay for their surgery.
The chapter asked that policies allowing transgender individuals to serve be reversed. This order directs revision of the medical standards that govern service on those grounds.
The document says “should”Who acts: DODHow: internal managementp. 103 in the PDF
What the document says
“Eliminate Marxist indoctrination and divisive critical race theory programs and abolish newly established diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and staff.”
The chapter asks for the abolition of diversity, equity and inclusion offices and their staff across the Department of Defense, and for the elimination of what it describes as Marxist indoctrination and critical race theory programs. It uses those terms without defining them.
What the document actually says
“Eliminate Marxist indoctrination and divisive critical race theory programs and abolish newly established diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and staff.”
That sentence, in plain words
Get rid of these training programs. Close the diversity offices and let their staff go.
What this is about
The military set up offices to work on fairness and diversity. The book says to close them. It says the training they run is harmful. It uses its own words for that training.
The document says “should”Who acts: DOD, CongressHow: not specifiedp. 102 in the PDF
What the document says
“require completion of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery”
The chapter proposes improving recruiters' access to secondary schools and requiring all students in schools that receive federal funding to sit the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, the military entrance examination. It names no instrument for imposing the requirement.
What the document actually says
“require completion of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery”
That sentence, in plain words
Make every student sit the test the armed forces use.
What this is about
The military has a test for people who want to join. The book says every student should take it. That would apply at any school that gets federal money.
The document says “should”Who acts: DODHow: internal managementp. 102 in the PDF
What the document says
“Improve recruiting by suspending the use of the recently introduced MHS Genesis system”
MHS Genesis draws on the private medical records of potential recruits at Military Entrance Processing Stations. The chapter says its use should be suspended because it creates delays and what the chapter calls unwarranted rejections. Recruiting shortfalls are the reason given.
What the document actually says
“Improve recruiting by suspending the use of the recently introduced MHS Genesis system”
That sentence, in plain words
Stop using the new system. It looks up the health records of new recruits.
What this is about
A system pulls up the medical records of people who want to join. The book says it slows things down. It says it turns away people who should be allowed in. It wants the system paused.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: internal managementp. 104 in the PDF
What the document says
“Reduce the number of generals. Rank creep is pervasive.”
The chapter states that the number of senior officers is at an all-time high, above World War II levels, while their battlefield experience is at an all-time low, and says the next President should limit the continued advancement of many of the existing senior officers, whom it says were advanced by prior Administrations for reasons other than warfighting ability.
What the document actually says
“Reduce the number of generals. Rank creep is pervasive.”
That sentence, in plain words
Cut the number of generals. There are far too many now.
What this is about
Generals are the top officers. The book says there are more of them than ever. It says there are more now than in World War II. It wants that number cut.
The document says “should”Who acts: DODHow: internal managementp. 104 in the PDF
What the document says
“Audit the course offerings at military academies to remove Marxist indoctrination, eliminate tenure for academic professionals”
The chapter asks for an audit of what is taught at the military academies, the removal of what it calls Marxist indoctrination, the end of tenure for academic staff, and for instructors to be governed by the same rules that apply to other Department of Defense contracting personnel.
What the document actually says
“Audit the course offerings at military academies to remove Marxist indoctrination, eliminate tenure for academic professionals”
That sentence, in plain words
Check what is taught at the military schools. Take out the parts the book objects to. End job-for-life status for the teachers.
What this is about
Officers are trained at special schools. The book wants each course looked at. It wants some parts taken out. It also wants teachers there to lose their job for life.
The document says “should”Who acts: Congress, SenateHow: legislationp. 103 in the PDF
What the document says
“Codify language to instruct senior military officers (three and four stars) to make certain that they understand their primary duty to be ensuring the readiness of the armed forces, not pursuing a social engineering agenda.”
The chapter asks that this instruction be written into law for three and four star officers, that it be reinforced during Senate confirmation, and that orders motivated by what it calls purely partisan motives be identified as threats to readiness.
What the document actually says
“Codify language to instruct senior military officers (three and four stars) to make certain that they understand their primary duty to be ensuring the readiness of the armed forces, not pursuing a social engineering agenda.”
That sentence, in plain words
Put it in law. Top officers must know their first job is keeping the forces ready to fight.
What this is about
The book wants a law about what top officers must focus on. Their first job would be keeping the forces ready. The book says social causes should not come first.
The document says “should”Who acts: DODHow: internal managementp. 104 in the PDF
What the document says
“Restrict the use of social media solely for purposes of recruitment”
The chapter says official military social media should be used only for recruiting, and that service personnel who use an official command channel to engage with civilian critics on social media should be disciplined.
What the document actually says
“Restrict the use of social media solely for purposes of recruitment”
That sentence, in plain words
Use these accounts only to find new recruits. Nothing else.
What this is about
The armed forces run their own social media pages. The book says they should only use them to find recruits. It says staff who argue with critics there should be punished.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, DODHow: not specifiedp. 107 in the PDF
What the document says
“This function should be returned to OPM except for military security clearance investigations.”
After the 2015 data breach at the Office of Personnel Management, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency took over security clearance and suitability investigations for about 95 percent of the federal civilian workforce. The chapter calls that decision wrongheaded, says it grew out of an intention to dismantle OPM, and asks for the function to go back to OPM apart from military clearances.
What the document actually says
“This function should be returned to OPM except for military security clearance investigations.”
That sentence, in plain words
Give this job back to OPM. The military should keep only its own checks.
What this is about
People who handle secrets must be checked first. A defense agency now does that for most civil servants. The book says the personnel agency should do it again.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, State DepartmentHow: internal managementp. 101 in the PDF
What the document says
“End the tiered review process to eliminate at least 20 days from the FMS process.”
Tiered review is the practice by which the State Department previews prospective arms transfers with Congress before formal notification. The chapter notes it is not written into law, says ending it would remove at least 20 days from the process, and says it should be used only where unanimous congressional support is guaranteed, to prevent what it calls weaponisation by individual Members.
What the document actually says
“End the tiered review process to eliminate at least 20 days from the FMS process.”
That sentence, in plain words
End the early review step. That would cut at least 20 days from arms sales.
What this is about
The United States sells weapons to other countries. Before a sale, Congress gets a quiet early look. The book says this is not required by law. It says dropping it would speed sales up.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, CongressHow: not specifiedp. 108 in the PDF
What the document says
“Increase the Army force structure by 50,000 to handle two major regional contingencies simultaneously.”
The chapter states that the Army budget has fallen by roughly 11 percent since 2018 and that the service cannot execute its land dominance mission. It asks for the Army budget to be increased, for the six current modernisation priorities to be accelerated, and for 50,000 more soldiers so that two major regional conflicts can be handled at once.
What the document actually says
“Increase the Army force structure by 50,000 to handle two major regional contingencies simultaneously.”
That sentence, in plain words
Add 50,000 more soldiers to the Army. Then it could fight two big wars at once.
What this is about
The book says the Army has shrunk. It says it could not fight two wars at the same time. It asks for 50,000 more soldiers.
The document says “must”Who acts: President, CongressHow: not specifiedp. 111 in the PDF
What the document says
“Build a fleet of more than 355 ships.”
The chapter asks for a fleet of more than 355 ships, for unmanned systems to be developed and fielded alongside the manned force, and for range and lethality to be the key factors in procurement and sustainment decisions for ships, aircraft and munitions.
What the document actually says
“Build a fleet of more than 355 ships.”
That sentence, in plain words
Build a navy of more than 355 ships.
What this is about
The book says the Navy needs to be bigger. It asks for more than 355 ships. It also wants ships that can run without a crew.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, CongressHow: not specifiedp. 114 in the PDF
What the document says
“Increase the Air Force budget by 5 percent annually”
The chapter states that the Air Force is the oldest, smallest and least ready in its history, and that its five-year plan retires 1,463 aircraft while buying 467. It asks for a 5 percent annual increase after inflation, and separately for the elimination of pass-through funding, which it describes as money in the Air Force budget that does not go to the Air Force and which it says exceeds $40 billion a year.
What the document actually says
“Increase the Air Force budget by 5 percent annually”
That sentence, in plain words
Raise the Air Force budget by 5 percent each year.
What this is about
The book says the Air Force is the oldest and smallest it has ever been. It is retiring far more planes than it buys. The book asks for more money each year.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, DODHow: internal managementp. 118 in the PDF
What the document says
“Reestablish offensive capabilities to guarantee a favorable balance of forces”
The chapter states that the Biden Administration eliminated almost all offensive deterrence capabilities in space in favor of defensive ones, which it calls the most costly, slowest and most fragile choice. It asks for offensive capabilities to be restored, for space control capability to be expanded to include cis-lunar space, and for less overclassification.
What the document actually says
“Reestablish offensive capabilities to guarantee a favorable balance of forces”
That sentence, in plain words
Build back the power to strike. That keeps the balance in our favor.
What this is about
Satellites in space guide troops and weapons. Today the plan is mostly to defend them. The book says America should also be able to attack. It says that would make an enemy think twice.
The document says “should”Who acts: DODHow: internal managementp. 116 in the PDF
What the document says
“Eliminate all USMC law enforcement battalions.”
The chapter supports the Force Design 2030 transformation and lists what it involves: eliminating the Marine Corps law enforcement battalions, converting at least one infantry regiment into a littoral regiment, reducing the size of remaining infantry battalions, keeping the divestment of M1 Abrams tanks, cutting most tube artillery batteries, and using the savings for rocket artillery, drones and long-range missiles.
What the document actually says
“Eliminate all USMC law enforcement battalions.”
That sentence, in plain words
Close all of the Marine Corps police units.
What this is about
The Marines are changing what kind of force they are. They want to fight from islands and ships again. So they are giving up tanks and heavy guns. The book backs that plan.
Recommendations from the chapter's 'Needed Reforms' lists, which set out its proposals as numbered items, across defense strategy, procurement, research, arms sales, personnel, intelligence and each armed service.
The chapter's assessment of current conditions, its account of recent history including the Afghanistan withdrawal, and the detailed technical procurement items where the proposal is a quantity or a program name rather than a change of policy. Many such items exist and are not all recorded here.
This is the longest chapter indexed so far and its 'Needed Reforms' lists run to well over a hundred numbered items. What is indexed is a selection of the substantive policy changes, not the complete list. Items on force structure, munitions rates and specific weapons programs are largely omitted.
