Sustaining Warfighting Ability: While Achieving Total Force Reduction

Abstract

This paper examines how training has become the center of gravity of the U.S. Army and proposes that it should be the basis for determining future reductions in force structure. The transition from a threat-based to a training- based design will ensure the decay to readiness which historically follows any major Army reductions will not occur. Training is a natural target for reduction since the benefits associated with a highly trained or poorly trained unit is only realized during combat. Using the Combat Training Center(CTC) training model as a point of departure, the minimum number of Active Army divisions are proposed-to ensure warfighting readiness is maintained well into the future. To complete the discussion of future force structure the National Guard's role in combat operations is analyzed with recommendations on how the Guard can become a full team player. The bottomline is the reality check applied when these proposals are compared with the historical relationship the militia and regular force have had since the founding of this nation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 15, 1993
Accession Number
ADA264045

Entities

People

  • Robert J. Graebener

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Combat Operations
  • Command And Control
  • Governments
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Training
  • National Guard
  • National Security
  • New York
  • North America
  • Organizational Structure
  • Security
  • Training
  • United States
  • Ussr
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies