Challenging the Existing Readiness Model: "Ready for What?"
Abstract
Thesis: Since the end of the Cold War, Americas reliance on the liberal international system to maintain security has resulted in the obsolescence of traditional military readiness methods, necessitating a new approach that will keep pace with the rapidly evolving threat environment. Discussion: This essay will begin by building a strategic understanding of military readiness through the lens of the post-Cold War liberal world order. The discussion will include an analysis of liberal international theory and its assumptions. This will lay the foundation for the assertion that Americas devotion to the liberal world order has not come at the expense of military readiness, but has replaced the traditional understanding of readiness. The national budget links operational and tactical military readiness with strategic readiness. If the United States Government intends to prioritize other elements of the DIME for national security in place of traditional military readiness, the military services must use the readiness reporting process to ensure efficient use of every dollar provided. In order to most effectively prioritize those limited resources, an objective methodology is required to identify capability gaps. To answer the thesis, this paper offers an innovative solution to reform the readiness reporting process so that requirements may be objectively evaluated or to advise senior leaders where they accept risk.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1177059
Entities
People
- Jeremy M Hirsch
Organizations
- Marine Corps University