After more than a decade of persistent counterinsurgency conflict (COIN) and multiple simultaneous responses to multiple natural disasters, the United States Army finds itself at a crossroads regarding the professional education of its officers and enlisted force. Considering that overseas contingency operations in Iraq are expected to conclude in December 2011 and by 2014 for Afghanistan, it is plausible that strategic planners are considering the future composition of what will constitute the Total Armed Force to include new educational criteria for what may be a smaller force than needed for today's operations. While this may be “peace dividend” speculation, there is precedence for the Army to reevaluate its force structure and personnel qualification requirements after each major conflict over the last century. . Although defense budget reductions are expected to de-prioritize the Army's equipment, training postponements due to persistent contingency operations have inhibited the professional development of enlisted Soldiers, even as counterinsurgency operations require refocused training of Soldiers to enhance their sense of situational understanding and application of observable operational ethics through conceptual leadership assessment efforts of enlisted Soldiers. .Reversing the Culture of Deferral The Army's operational requirements during overseas contingency operations have been expanded. The Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) model has proven effective in supporting persistent mission requirements by ensuring units are operationally prepared for deployment. Commanders and senior noncommissioned officers (SNCOs) responded professionally to the ARFORGEN process by building and maintaining cohesive units ready to meet the rigorous demands of COIN operations. U... middle of paper... Subcommittee of the Professional Military Education Services Committee. Washington DC Powers, J. (2006). Civil-military operations and professional military training. Southeast Asian Studies (p. 55). Hurlburt Field.Robinson, P. (2007). Training and ethical development in the military sector. Parameters, (Spring), 23-36. Salmoni, B. A., Hart, J., Mcpherson, R., & Winn, A. K. (2010). Growing strategic leaders for future conflicts. Parameters, 72-88. Scott Efflandt and Reed, B. (2001). Developing the warrior-scholar. Military Review, (August), 82-89.Snider, D. M., Toner, K., & Oh, P. (2009). The Army's professional military ethic in an era of persistent conflict. Safety (page 30). Carlisle.Wertheim, M. (2005). Thinking about… Learning in DOD; Changing the culture.Williamson, S. (1999). A description of the enlisted personnel promotion system in the United States (p. 25). Washington DC.