Fort Leavenworth ? A top British general said Friday his nation’s army is feeling the same strains as American troops are facing after multiple deployments and almost six years of war.

And Maj. Gen. Simon Mayall said he doesn’t see those dynamics changing anytime soon for either nation.

“It is a volunteer army drawn from a democracy operating in tough, tough operations that are not necessarily fully supported by our respective publics,” Mayall said during a visit to Fort Leavenworth’s Command and General Staff College.

Leaders in the British and American militaries believe the threats raised by terrorists will last for a generation, he said.

“I don’t think the nexus, which can prove to be rather politically charged, of Islamic extremism, weapons of mass destruction, failed or rogue states, is going to go away,” Mayall said. “I think we Europeans should not be burying our heads in the sand on this.”

Mayall, assistant chief of the general staff of the British Army, said the British military is also struggling to fight insurgencies around the globe while maintaining readiness for other challenges. Mayall was second in command of coalition forces in Iraq in 2006 and 2007. The British have about 12,000 soldiers deployed between Afghanistan and Iraq.

Lt. Gen. William Caldwell IV, commander of Fort Leavenworth and former military spokesman in Iraq, said coalition forces are being asked to do more than in previous conflicts.

“Persistent conflict has strained our military forces, no question,” Caldwell said. “At the same time, we’re asking our soldiers to shoulder a wider range of tasks and missions than ever before. It is not uncommon that a unit is engaged in direct combat one day, then building a school or a hospital the next.”

Mayall was at Fort Leavenworth to review the training of 200 British officers spending three weeks in the United States. British and American officers were conducting an exercise at the installation.

He said the training in Kansas was a significant aspect of the nine-month course for the British majors, who will learn the American military culture, which will pay off during future joint missions.

Mayall said the exchange has “strategic significance,” because the U.S. and Britain broadly share the same values, objectives and battlefields.

“It absolutely behooves us, as a serious army, to understand the way which the Americans are thinking, going. We’re obviously very heavily influenced by American doctrine and tactics. Equally, there are differences that are useful for us to identify,” he said.

The Army recently published a revised manual on operations, elevating nation-building tasks to the same level as offensive and defensive efforts. It was the first revision since June 2001. Caldwell has been traveling across the nation to brief military and civilian leaders, as well as numerous media outlets.

Maintaining combat effectiveness takes vigilance by commanders of all nations, he said.

“As leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure that we are providing our men and women in uniform with the necessary training, equipment and decision-making skills to ensure their success,” Caldwell said. “We also depend heavily on the expertise and support provided by our coalition partners.”