The Army’s Modernization

I was both pleased and impressed with the “The Army Does an About-Face” (Column One, April 20). John Broder and Douglas Jehl did an excellent job in describing the influencing forces and personalities that, over time, modernized and molded today’s Army.

Having been a part of the Army’s force modernization process in the formative years (along with then-Col. Thomas Kelly) and assisting in its development since, it sometimes amazes me that any progress was made, let alone a turnaround. The Army, or any service, is a huge and complex organization. Moving it even one-tenth of a degree is a monumental task. National strategy, emerging doctrine, technology, manpower, politics, training facilities, funding and a myriad of other influencing factors all have enormous impact on the institutional ability to travel a predetermined course with any degree of surety. Fortunately, there have been enlightened leaders in the right place at the right time to keep the objective in focus. The synergy we worked so hard to achieve over the past 15 years has come to fruition.

GEORGE P. MILLER

San Clemente