By Dale Kooyenga

America's military is the envy of virtually every nation in the world, however, the U.S. military of tomorrow does face significant challenges.

Americans should be concerned about rogue states such as North Korea and Iran as well as non-state actors such as Al- Qaeda, but we should be equally concerned about U.S. domestic policies. The American educational system and economic policies at every level of government are setting its citizens up for failure.

If our elected officials do not repair our educational system and strengthen our economy, our nation will inevitably face emboldened adversaries with a U.S. military that is smaller and less effective than the current force.

There is no doubt in my mind that national defense is the responsibility of the federal government, however, the building blocks of a strong national defense, a viable economy and a strong education system have historically been the responsibility of state and local governments.

A robust economy and effective educational systems serve as the foundations of a powerful national defense, not the other way around.

There is little debate that America's educational system is no longer the world's gold standard, and our economy has scarcely rebounded from the recession and many believe that high employment is here to stay.

The American people frequently point to our failures in Washington, and for good reason, but education is a state and local issue and the majority of our states are equally as culpable for mismanaging our economy as Washington.

Recently released statistics revealed that 75 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 are ineligible for military service because of a lack of education, having a criminal record and/or as a result of being overweight.

The demands placed on today's military professional require an ability to collaborate, problem-solve and communicate. These are basic skills that could be learned in a structured and competent learning environment, our schools!

Our military professionals are just as likely to be working as community builders as they are to be engaged in traditional combat. In addition, the majority of our forces always has been, and will continue to be, combat support.

We need young adults who are able to compute, develop electrical systems, deliver supplies around the world and repair complex mechanical and electronic equipment.

General David Petraeus stated it well: "Counterinsurgency is not just the thinking man's warfare, it is the graduate level of warfare."

The majority of our nation's students will not serve in the military, but their educational success remains critical to our national defense. They will bring their talents to our technology and manufacturing industries that have kept our technology a generation ahead of those of our adversaries.

Without technical skills and American innovation, we will fight tomorrow's enemies with yesterday's technology. A well educated populace also serves as a catalyst for a technically strong and entrepreneurial workforce.

Providing a national defense is expensive and is only going to be more costly as our European allies continue to fall from the weight of their social welfare systems. America cannot make the investments in national defense if the economy does not provide the necessary tax base.

The Cold War was won, in part, because the Soviet Union realized the American economy was growing and the Soviet economy was stagnant. The American economy was not only providing an increased tax base, but was also creating new technology as a result of a robust entrepreneurial culture.

Today, interstate commerce is increasingly difficult because of drastically different environmental, legal, labor and tax policies from one state to another. States, such as Wisconsin, have created and expanded state bureaucracies that act as adversaries, as opposed to partners, to businesses of every size.

Governments at every level have taken on staggering debt, and the price for their recklessness places an extraordinary burden on individuals and businesses alike. State government can create business efficiencies and boost productivity by deregulating and reducing the overall burden of conducting business at home and abroad.

Our business owners should be free to devote their resources to developing new technology and increasing productivity instead of navigating 51 separate tax codes and legal regulations.

Highly skilled students will serve as guardians to our country's national defense by growing the national economy with innovation, or some may choose to serve in uniform as members of the Armed Forces. Our national defense is the primary role of the federal government, and as such, it is imperative we provide the opportunity for all individuals to obtain quality educations to further strengthen the foundation of this country.

Our state governments are crucial to this success, and our elected leaders must set forth a clear path to achieve our educational goals. May we, as citizens, leaders, friends and neighbors, all unite for the defense our country's principles and a better future for the next generation.

I encourage elected officials at every level of governance to feel this sense of urgency. Over-regulation, high taxes, ballooning debts, unacceptable unemployment rates and second-class education systems are propelling this once great nation backward. Our education, economy and national defense are inextricably linked.

It's in the collective interest of all Americans to focus on rebuilding our educational systems and restoring economic growth. The consequences of failing to take drastic action threaten the greatness of both our state and our country.

Dale Kooyenga will serve his first term as Representative to the Assembly from the 14th District in Madison, Wis., this January. He is a CPA and serves in the Army Reserve as an Army Intelligence Officer.