The Mission of the Training Divisions in the 1990s and Beyond
Abstract
The Soviet Union has take bold initiatives by unilaterally reducing conventional military forces in Europe. The upcoming conventional arms reduction talks considered in light of a perceived lessening of east-west tensions and increasing budget concerns throughout the west will undoubtedly lead to a reduction of U.S. forward deployed forces. Over the next decade or so the U.S. military strategy of forward deployed forces will most likely become a strategy of forward deployable reinforcements. Due to political and economic factors the U.S. will no longer be able to afford as large an Active Component Army as it ha since World War II. Active Component end-strength will be severely reduced, but in order to maintain an adequate defense most of the structure will be retained in the Reserve Components. The Reserves should be restructured with an intent to gain flexibility as well as increase the national military readiness posture. This study debates the utility of USAR training divisions and recommends dramatic structural and doctrinal changes which would enable these units (which contain approximately 15% of all drilling reservists) to be a viable combat multiplier in the total force structure of the 1990s and beyond.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 31, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA209565
Entities
People
- Robert A. Lee
Organizations
- United States Army War College