Rethinking the Bottom-Up Review: Flawed Assumptions of Future Warfighting?

Abstract

The change in the strategic environment and the emerging priorities within the American society are causing major shifts in the size, structure, and focus of the U.S. Armed Forces for the 21st Century. The results have been a change in our force projection strategy that is based on a study called the Bottom-Up Review. This study, attempts to realign the focus of the U.S. Armed Forces, and do so within the ever increasing budget constraints. Although drastically needed, the Bottom-UP Review recommends shifts in our force projection strategy that appear to be based on faulty assumptions and incomplete analysis of the impacts on future warfighting abilities. This monograph analyzes the background and significance of force projection and its relationship to the emerging strategy as outlined in the Bottom-Up Review. It reviews history and analyzes some of the key assumptions on which the Bottom-Up Review is based, linking the historical issues with possible flaws in the Bottom-Up Review assumptions. This monograph concludes there is much work to be done on the underpinnings of changing a force projection strategy. This includes further study of the assumptions on which the Bottom-Up review is based, a clear definition of what our force projection capabilities should be in 2001 and beyond, and recommendations that will reduce near-term issues with our force projection strategy. Should the Department of Defense continue to use the Bottom-Up Review and its flawed assumptions as a base for our future force projection strategy, it may be the nation's future is currently being mortgaged rather than being protected. This study further concludes that the Bottom-Up Review is not a sufficient study from which to base a new force projection strategy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 19, 1995
Accession Number
ADA301166

Entities

People

  • Robert L. Mayes

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

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  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

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  • Aircrafts
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  • Combat Forces
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  • Department Of Defense
  • Education
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  • Military History
  • Military Science
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  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

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