The Shape of Things to Come

the long version

As the subtitle states, this is a compilation of trends and projections that are expected to affect Army recruiting and manpower policy in the 21st Century. Over one-hundred trends are identified in eleven major areas. The possible implications of these trends are then addressed along with related issues or questions for manpower policymakers. The material presented here was drawn from many sources. Although these sources are not listed, they cover a range of disciplines and reflect some of the best thinking on 'where we are' and where we may be heading in the years ahead. An attempt was made to limit the trends and projections to those that are somehow connected to staffing the military--particularly the Army--of the future. These connections may not always be clear, and they are certainly subject to disagreement. The power to control one's future is greatly strengthened by understanding the various influences of the past and present. This is an important part of the planning process, and is the primary objective of the work presented here. The Shape of Things to Come was created as a resource for military manpower planners and policymakers, as a collection of useful information for asking questions, raising discussion, and ultimately helping to design the Army of the 21st Century.