Thesis: The time to transform the airborne community is now. If not the forces will become obsolete. The success of airborne future is at stake. The forces must modernize. The United States must modernize the airborne forces to ensure airborne operations remain a valuable force multiplier. Airborne operations can continue to provide the National Command Authority the strategic force to project power during a national crisis only if provided with the latest equipment and training. The current airborne forces will become obsolete if not modernized. Even worse, the failure to modernize our airborne forces will result in their devastating defeat on the battlefield resulting in loss of lives for many of our most valuable resource, "The American Paratrooper."

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