As to the development of unmanned operational forces, the USA has established the first “coordinated manned-unmanned” squadron made up of AH-64 Apache helicopters and RQ-7 “Shadow” Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The USN has established the Unmanned Weapon Systems Directorate, which is responsible for supervising the R＆D of unmanned air, maritime and underwater systems. As for the building of missile defense forces, the US military carried out 6 anti-missile tests in 2015, among which there were 3 sea-based midcourse anti-missile tests, 1 sea-based terminal anti-missile test, and 2 integrated anti-missile tests. The USA has planned to establish 15 Patriot Missile Defense Battalions and 7 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense （THAAD） Missile Defense Batteries by the end of 2019. In addition, the US military has also planned to incorporate private companies to provide unmanned aerial vehicle （UAV） patrol and cyber operations support. As to the building of special operations forces （SOF）, the USA has planned to increase active-duty SOF service members up to 697,000 personnel, which are to be grouped into 3 Army Ranger Battalions and 660 SOF Elements, and procure special operations equipment like the MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft, light assault vehicles （LAVs）, etc. to enhance its global deployment capabilities. In March 2015, the USAF established in the United Kingdom （UK） the 352nd Wing, the very first overseas special operations wing, which is staffed by 1,500 personnel and focuses on supporting the combat operations within the areas of responsibility （AORs） of the United States European Command （USEUCOM）, the United States Africa Command （USAFRICOM）, and the United States Central Command （USCENTCOM）.
In comparison with 2014, the US military strength, force disposition, and the building of new-type operational forces in 2015 demonstrated the following characteristics：
First, the US military’s overall size was expanded, but active and reserve forces decreased in number while the percentage of civilian personnel increased instead. Compared with the 2,873,000 personnel in 2014, the US military strength in 2015 was 2,915,000 personnel, increasing 42,000 personnel than the previous year, amounting to approximately 1.5%; however, active forces decreased from 1,326,000 to 1,303,000 personnel, decreasing by 23,000 personnel, amounting to approximately 1.7%; reserve forces decreased from 824,000 to 819,000 personnel, decreasing by 5,000 personnel, amounting to approximately 0.6%; civilians increased from 723,000 to 793,000 personnel, increasing by 70,000, amounting to approximately 9.7%. From these figures, it can be seen that during the past year, more military posts were replaced by civilian personnel in the US military. This was a specific move of the US military to deal with the cut in defense budget so as to attain the goal of not compromising combat effectiveness despite the budget cut.
Second, the US military dispatched more troops and equipment to strengthen its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region with a more obvious intention to target China. In Japan, it replaced the aircraft carrier USS George Washington （CVN-73） which was to be overhauled and the decommissioning Austin-class amphibious transport dock USS Denver （LPD-9） with the more advanced aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan （CVN-76） and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay （LPD-20）, and deployed an additional Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville （CG-62） as well as the Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold （DDG-65）, which had anti-missile capabilities. In ROK, the US military deployed an additional firing battalion and promoted the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system. In Guam, the US military deployed an additional Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Topeka （SSN-754）. In the Manila and Clark Air Bases in the Philippines, the new-type P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare （ASW） aircraft were stationed in rotation on a regular basis. In the Darwin Naval Base in Australia, the US military continued stationing in rotation a battalion-level USMC expeditionary force. In Singapore, the US military was authorized to station P-8A in rotation and planned to deploy 4 Littoral Combat Ships （LCSs） in rotation by 2017. Moreover, the US military also deployed such warplanes as F-16, F-22, B-1, and B-2 in rotation to Japan, ROK, Guam, etc. and dynamically deployed over 30 warships to the Western Pacific waters. All these moves of the US military to have sent reinforcements to the Asia-Pacific region and its so-called freedom of navigation operations （FONOPs） have made the US intention to militarily encircle and contain China more obvious than ever before.
Third, the US postponed withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan and intensified its efforts to combat the ISIS. Given that the situation in Afghanistan was deteriorating and the Taliban armed forces were gaining momentum, the US decided to suspend its withdrawal plan and maintain the current size of a 9,800 personnel garrison in order to protect US agencies in Afghanistan and train the Afghan Defense Forces. At the same time, in Iraq and Syria, the US military conducted operations to combat the ISIS, worked along with its allies to carry out sustained air strikes, and enhanced the strengths of the Iraqi government forces and the Syrian opposition forces by means of providing advisors, training, and equipment, etc.
Fourth, the US military adjusted its force disposition in Europe and emphasized its dynamic military presence there. In January 2015, the US announced to completely or partially close 15 military installations in the UK, Germany, Italy, etc. and cut 2,000 troops stationed there. It transferred units like the 352nd Special Operations Wing and the 351st Air Refueling Squadron in the UK to Germany and increased its military presence in the forefront of Ukraine. In the UK, the US chose Royal Air Force （RAF） Lakenheath Air Base as the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet base in Europe. In Central and Eastern Europe, the US military prepositioned heavy armaments like tanks and armored vehicles, increased the dynamic deployment of Amphibious Ready Groups （ARGs） and USMC expeditionary forces, stationed the F-22 Raptor fighter jets in rotation for the first time, increased the scale and frequency of its exercises and training activities with NATO allies, and established the Ground-Based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System （BMDS） Command in Poland, etc.
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