Forcible Entry Operations: A CINC's Trump Card
Abstract
A lesson from the Gulf War that will in all likelihood be learned by our future adversaries is that they must prevent the U.S. from establishing lodgements for follow-on forces. The CINC's ace-in-the-hole or trump card will be their ability to rapidly project power and forces into semi-permissive or non-permissive areas of operations. Forces required to execute forcible entry operations are assigned or forced listed to each CINC. However, these capabilities, amphibious assault, airborne and air assault, have primarily been developed along separate service lines. Despite the fact these separate capabilities have been recognized as the elite forces, they have not been a CINC top priority in joint integration, technology and equipment modernization. What is the right force/force mix for forcible entry operations? Is it Marine Corps amphibious assault or Army airborne and air assault? The answer is all of the above - as the risk is just too high without the complete package. Each of these forces bring to-the-table special warfighting skills, however, when you analyze operational imperatives with a forced entry scenario, certain constraints surface which could become show stoppers. An effective mix of these elite warfighting skills would maximize collective strengths and minimize individual limitations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 12, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA283439
Entities
People
- Stephen P. Kinder
Organizations
- Naval War College