Comprehensive Analysis of Strategic Force Generation Challenges in the Australian Army
Abstract
Australian Army Headquarters has tasked RAND Australia to investigate the strategic-level challenges associated with Force Generation (FORGEN) in the wake of its adopting a cyclical 36-monthFORGEN process to support its newly organized and modernized formations. To accomplish this objective, RAND compiled information about the status of the Australian Army along with relevant lessons identified from the reorganization, modernization, and strategic FORGEN challenges of other militaries. Ultimately, this effort aims to help the Australian Army develop best practices for overcoming challenges in generating forces in light of its current and emergent missions and resourcing levels. This report begins by discussing enterprise initiatives that armies undertakeand how FORGEN relates to such initiatives. A review of enterprise initiatives and challenges in the U.S., French, and Canadian armies provides a foundation for identifying and prioritizing FORGEN challenges faced by the Australian Army. We draw on defense frameworks to analyze and organize Australian Army FORGEN challengesand also draw upon recent research, conducted by the Land Analytical Decision Support section of the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), that examined tactical-level challenges associated with the capability and capacity of the Armys enabler forces. The present study incorporates relevant DSTG findings into higher-level strategic challenges. This report primarily addresses the Active Component (AC) and how it relates to FORGEN requirements at the strategic level. Although there is some discussion of the Reserve Component (RC) and of how Government, civilians, and contractors might be used as means of addressing challenges, the RC, civilians, and contractors are not the focus of this study and warrant additional attention in future research. Also, this study did not address the special operations community; this, too, is a potential area for further investigation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1086233
Entities
People
- Angelena Bohman
- Christina Bartol B. Burnett
- Dwayne M. Butler
- Julia A. Thompson
- Lisa P. Colabella
- Michael Shurkin
- Rebecca Jensen
- Stephan B. Seabrook
Organizations
- RAND Corporation