Hamstrung and Road Bound: The American Army's Devolution into a Motorized Force as Soldiers Confront the Quandary of Mechanized Mobility Versus the Light-Infantry Solution
Abstract
The United States Military forces have established themselves as the technological leaders in the world today and with every war they generate new capabilities and equipment to combat the threats they face. They have viewed themselves as an innovative institution that uses technology in various forms to replace the capacity and capability of traditional dismounted ground forces. The "American Way of War," which is the desire for quick campaigns dominated by technological superiority, has manifested itself in today's Army. The predisposition for mechanized/motorized movement and reliance on technology has echoed through the US military's history to this day, culminating in the introduction of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle as a replacement for the foot Soldier. The introduction and use of MRAPs is a clear cut example of the US Military treating the symptom, not the problem. The essential argument here is between the advantages of mechanized/motorized movement versus the effectiveness of a light-infantry approach. The US Army as an organization should have recognized that the use of roads as maneuver corridors was ill-advised and resulted in needless injuries and deaths of Soldiers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 25, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1176153
Entities
People
- Henry V. Hansen
Organizations
- Marine Corps University