Enabling Operational Reach and Endurance: The Use of Contractors During World War II

Abstract

The Army's force reduction over recent years causes concern due to the continuation of commitments in a complex global environment. The current Army Operating Concept does not address the use or incorporation of contractors to augment force structure in the event of a militarized response, overlooking historical dependency on contractors to enable operational reach. The Army's use of contractors during World War II provides key insights as to how to rapidly source and integrate contractors into operations during a full mobilization of the nation's resources. Contractors served as substitutes for Soldiers or civilian employees, and provided key benefits such as flexibility, expansibility, and long-term cost savings associated with a lack of pension and other benefit obligations. These principles are directly applicable today.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 26, 2016
Accession Number
AD1022250

Entities

People

  • Jason W. Schultz

Organizations

  • School of Advanced Military Studies

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • International Law
  • International Relations
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Private Military Companies
  • Second World War
  • Students
  • War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Strategic Security Studies