{"id":17105,"date":"2018-04-11T21:49:18","date_gmt":"2018-04-11T21:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/11\/this-mattis-directed-task-force-wants-to-overhaul-the-infantry-heres-how-it-might-do-that\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:02:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:02:14","slug":"this-mattis-directed-task-force-wants-to-overhaul-the-infantry-heres-how-it-might-do-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/11\/this-mattis-directed-task-force-wants-to-overhaul-the-infantry-heres-how-it-might-do-that\/","title":{"rendered":"This Mattis-directed task force wants to overhaul the infantry. Here\u2019s how it might do that."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a new task force has its way, time-honored extra duties such as handing out towels at the gym, raking sand, standing gate guard duty and picking up litter will no longer consume the time and energy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2017\/06\/27\/the-new-stealth-infantry-how-suppressors-will-change-battlefield-tactics\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">infantry <\/a>soldiers and Marines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, they will be better selected, equipped, trained and prepared for their mission \u2014 intimate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marinecorpstimes.com\/news\/marine-corps-times\/2018\/01\/22\/modernizing-infantry-marines-big-changes-coming-as-grunts-take-on-more-special-ops-style-missions\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">killing <\/a>in close combat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A close combat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/news\/your-army\/2017\/05\/07\/new-rifle-bigger-bullets-inside-the-army-s-plan-to-ditch-the-m4-and-5-56\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">lethality <\/a>task force operating at the highest levels of the Pentagon is likely shaping not only the future of the infantry but also who serves in ground combat forces, when and for how long, and what they do while they\u2019re serving.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/01\/23\/not-just-a-sidearm-armys-new-handgun-marks-first-step-to-changing-how-soldiers-fight\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-handgun-cover-2-web.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Not just a sidearm: Army&#8217;s new handgun marks first step to changing how soldiers fight<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The sidearm was a low priority for decades, taking the back seat to bigger systems such as vehicles, tanks and artillery \u2014 but that&#039;s all about to change.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Robert Wilkie, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, and retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Scales on Wednesday unveiled some of the early work being done on a task force that was years in the making but only under Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has received the heft of funding and resolve to get moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilkie and Scales spoke Wednesday at the Association of the U.S. Army\u2019s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Close Combat Lethality Task Force is a cross-service group that formed earlier this year to focus on increasing the lethality of infantry and certain close combat troops with the goal of overmatch in the close, tactical fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using findings from a Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, or CAPE, study last year, the task force, at Mattis\u2019 direction, has already put $2.5 billion toward materiel and equipment improvements for the infantry, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/news\/your-army\/2017\/10\/08\/the-armys-next-generation-squad-weapon-could-change-the-way-you-fight\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Next Generation Combat Weapon<\/a> being developed by the Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scales serves as the chair of the task force. His 2016 book, \u201cScales on War: The Future of America\u2019s Military at Risk,\u201d serves as a kind of blueprint or potential road map for changes he sees necessary to the survivability and success of infantry and special operations forces in the Army, Marines and Special Operations Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe secretary of defense has dedicated a great deal of time and effort,\u201d Wilkie said. \u201cHe has tasked us with gauging the readiness of the entire force, enforcing decisions, making changes in force structure. We\u2019re no longer just an oversight bot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His office is reconfiguring how small units, platoons and below, are accounting for their time, Wilkie said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe readiness reporting system at the small unit level fails us,\u201d Scales said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-urban-combat-cover-1-web.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-37215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-urban-combat-cover-1-web.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-urban-combat-cover-1-web.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-urban-combat-cover-1-web.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ARM-urban-combat-cover-1-web.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, practice using tanks and infantry fighting vehicles for cover when approaching an urban target during a major military exercise in southwest Asia. (Staff Sgt. Leah Kilpatrick\/Army)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilkie said that one of Mattis\u2019 main points of frustration is wasting the time of soldiers and Marines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To that end, they have directed the services to drastically reduce the annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armytimes.com\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/09\/heres-how-the-army-secretary-plans-to-build-a-ready-deployable-force\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">mandatory training<\/a> requirements to claw back time for training to warfighting goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Infantry soldiers and Marines will be training for their jobs, be it in the field, on the range or in a virtual environment through the myriad of simulations being developed by both the Army and Marines.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2017\/07\/25\/mattis-get-unnecessary-training-off-warfighters-backs\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mattis-sasc-senate-june.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Mattis: Get unnecessary training off warfighters\u2019 backs<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has ordered a review of all the administrative and training requirements.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilkie said his office is building a \u201crational workforce management\u201d model that will closely evaluate every aspect of how the close combat forces across the branches are being utilized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That will include how they are selected and when they retire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said that the 20-year \u201cup or out\u201d portion of the outdated personnel system will be looked at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked after the event whether Scales\u2019 suggestion that close combat leaders are in their prime at ages 28 to 40, and that they should first serve in other jobs before joining the infantry, Wilkie agreed that the recommendation, along with many others, is \u201con the table.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Close Combat Lethality Task Force could radically change the lives of infantry and ground combat troops across the services.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":37213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":70,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"2":{"categories":["your-military","news"],"primary_category":"your-military"},"6":{"categories":["your-marine-corps","news","daily-news-roundup","newsletters"],"primary_category":"your-marine-corps"}}},"categories":[100,12,25,70],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3366],"class_list":["post-17105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-your-army"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"ZLUAU4B47BGPTBEIYO6T4V3AW4","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-army\/2018\/04\/11\/this-mattis-directed-task-force-wants-to-overhaul-the-infantry-heres-how-it-might-do-that\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>This Mattis-directed task force wants to overhaul the infantry. 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