For several decades, the American military has relied on its superior training to ensure victory in its campaigns across the globe. Often far from home during extended missions abroad, the U.S. military planning assumption is that any opposing force, more often than not, will heavily outnumber it. Making sure that U.S. troops, although fewer in number, are better trained than their enemies has been one of the keys to guaranteeing success — or at least, staving off defeat. But the absolute advantage in training that the U.S. military has come to depend on since the late 1970s is no longer as certain as it once was. Russia and China, recognizing the value of highly trained troops, have begun ramping up and revamping their training programs in recent years.