One of the very few things the federal government must do, per the U.S. Constitution, is protect our country and our national security interests.

In fact, this is something that only the federal government can do. One of its primary tools to do so is the U.S. military and it spends a lot of money to maintain this capability.

It stands to reason then that people should know whether the military we have is up to the task. How big should it be? What are key factors that should shape its size, capabilities, and use? Just how ready is our force to do what it is tasked to do?

This brief video provides answers to these questions and a framework for understanding the current condition of our military and the many challenges confronting it and our nation.