USA Military and UAE Military - Essay Example

Comparison and Contrast between USA Military and UAE Military Comparison and Contrast between USA Military and UAE Military. Armed force, now days, is a significant factor of measuring of military capability of a country. “Over the years, the military linkages between the UAE and the US have been gradually accumulating” (UAE-Military Linkage). US military formed at the last of 18th century to defend British Empire and fought for independence. Since then US has been mounting massively as the leading country in the field of Armed Force in the world. Historical background, therefore, shows that US military is undisputedly powerful till now. On the other hand, having good relation, United Arab Emirates, encompasses much more distance in the sense of military power from USA. When the UAE starts its journey as an independent country in 1971, it had a scouts served as the mobile force of 1600 men. Present aspects may clearly distinguish between them. Number of army According to Department of Defense (DoD) the US Army has grown to 545,849 within 31th October, 2008. On the other hand amount of UAE troops is too few in comparison with the US Army. “In 2004 total active troops were estimated at 50,500 personnel: army, 44,000; navy, 2,500; and air force, 4,000. Estimates in 2005 raised the total to 59,000 personnel” (Pike). Mission Mission of US army is to conduct successful battle that must discharge national achievement and retaining dominance through resisting all threats. The mission of the US Army is plotted and composed in the global frame work. As it is said in the organization’s website, “The Army’s mission is to fight and win our Nation’s wars by providing prompt, sustained land dominance across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders” (US. Army). On the other side mission of UAE militaries is to establish proper protection for the Nation against threats and attacks. The UAE Army is orientated to maintain security of the Nation and Peace in the region. Military control Recent issues and history prove that Military Control of USA has depicted over successfully in most cases in different countries especially third world countries and Middle East countries as well Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. till now. But as a faintly penetrated UAE arm force is appearing now growing up keeping friendly relation with US. Though economically getting rich now, UAE, now days, seems is going to receive healthy grounding in military whereas any threat will come. Budget “On February 4, the Bush administration released its budget request for Fiscal Year 2009, which begins on October 1, 2008. For FY 2009, the White House is seeking $711 billion for the military” (Hellman & Sharp). USA military budget is growing increasingly with regards to fulfill military demand and world dominance, whereas, Military budget of UAE is far-reaching with comparing of USA. The defense budget of the UAE was set around USD 2 billion to USD 2.5 billion over the past years. But Some other sources “suggest it could be between USD 10 billion and USD 20 billion over the planning period” (Ripley & Foss). Women Participation: Alike men, American military system has been continuing military action carrying woman in different sides of armed action from past period. The participation and the contribution of women in the US Army have been remarkable since the Revolutionary war. In case of UAE, as because of Muslim country, women have involved to military very lately. Therefore, there have had huge restrictions of women action area in the Union Defense Force of UAE. Nevertheless, now days, flexibility is appearing there. “Like a bird leaving its nest’ - First batch of female military pilots to serve in the Emirati armed forces posted on 17/08/2008 Dressed in khaki overalls with black headdress, three of the first women pilots to serve in UAE military forces sat next together” (UAE Interact). Benefits and Incentives: Generally UAE military personnel get housing allowance, furniture allowance, car allowance, and free education for children, etc. According to rules of UDF some of the facilities are as free tickets the army and spouse and up to three children; increasing salary yearly; after retirement any can earn equal to full salary if completed 30 years; and will have facilities if children are less than 18 years. On the other side USA personnel deserves those mentioned facilities adding with army band operations, army sports program, army postal operations, command information, army and air Force exchange service, army career and alumni program. According to US Army information site (http://www.us-army-info.com/pages/benefits.html) the recruited army will have the following facilities: a. Army College Fund and Montgomery GI Bill is funded as $ 70,000. b. College Loan Repayment up to $65,000. c. Pay and Promotions are more are faster. d. After retirement a soldier will receive a monthly income of half of the base payment. e. As other facilities includes housing medical, insurance, relocation, dental, food, transportation for the army and his family including spouse and children. The “Army provides housing, food, medical, dental, and relocation/transportation costs for you and your family” (US Army-Info). Each year a soldier will receive 30 days paid leave and a $250,000 life insurance. f. Besides those there are various programs for serving US military such as- Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS) The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program (US Army-info) Source: (http://www.us-army-info.com/pages/benefits.html) Military Commander in Chief In UAE, military commander in chief of Union Defense Force (UDF) is the emir of Abu Dhabi. “The commander in chief of the UDF is the emir of Abu Dhabi”. On the other hand head of the state as president of USA is the commander in chief of US military according to their constitution. Organization Chart US armed force follows a concrete command of authority that performing chain of order from Field Army to Squads. Operational units are organized in the following manner: 1. The Theater Army, 2. Field Army and Army Group level, 3. Down Through Corps, 4. Divisions, 5. Brigades, 6. Battalions, 7. Companies, 8. Platoons and 9. Squads & Sections - and the typical rank of the Commander of these type units. (Source: http://www.army.mil/institution/organization) The above mentioned chart is retrieved from the websites of the US Army. Besides, from earlier, UAE military organisation has not been comparable with USA. But in contrust with USA, there exists a demostration of UAE military organisational shape that represents a royal hirarchy of command from infantry brigade to Royal Guard according to principal unit of UDF. “The principal units of the UDF in 1993 were one mechanized infantry brigade, one armored brigade, two infantry brigades, one artillery brigade, and the Royal Guard, organized along brigade lines. The Central Military Command of Dubayy supplies one infantry brigade. … The air force is organized into two fighter-ground attack squadrons, one air defense squadron, and one counterinsurgency squadron.” (Chapin) Conclusion In comparing and contrasting the military factors, undoubtedly it can be said that armed force of UAE is not comparable with armed force of USA anyway, but it is going to be true that within next decade UAE would deserve a healthy position within and outside of the Gulf countries. US military is much more capable than UAE military regarding with the unique strength in Organization Chart, Benefits and Incentives, Women Participation, Budget, Military Control, Strategy & Mission, Number of army, etc. Works Cited Chapin, M. Helem. Persian Gulf States: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1993, 02 Dec, 2008 from Hellman, Christopher. & Sharp, Travis. “Pentagon Seeking 2009 Budget of $711 Billion, Amounting to 48% of World Military Spending” Cross-Cultural Understanding. 29 May, 2008. 02 Dec, 2008 from “Like Bird Leaving the Nest”. UAE Interact 17 Aug, 2008. 02 Dec, 2008 from Pike, John. “Emirati Forces”, Military . 17 April, 2006. 02 Dec, 2008 from Ripley, Tim. & Foss, Christopher. United Arab Emirates procurement - Power drive, 02 Dec, 2008 from The US Army. “Organization” Army.mil/Institution. 02 Dec, 2008 from Read More