Congressional-Military Relations During Periods of Demobilization: Strategic Challenges for Strategic Leaders.

Abstract

Periods of demobilization in the US military often follow great military victories. The nation's leaders, quick to return to peace and prosperity, find large military forces are too resource intensive, given domestic demands. Competition between military advocates and domestic-minded politicians in post-conflict eras puts a heavy burden on military leaders who must argue the case for adequate armed forces. This paper examines the relationship between one General of the Army and two-Chiefs of Staff of the Army and the Congresses they served in order to determine the effectiveness of senior military leaders in meeting the challenge posed by demobilization. The lessons drawn from their experience have a direct application for our current leaders as they struggle with Congress to determine the shape of the Army in the future.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 07, 1997
Accession Number
ADA326815

Entities

People

  • Lee S. Lingamfelter

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army Budgets
  • Civil War
  • Congress
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Military Budgets
  • Militia
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • New York
  • Political Systems
  • Second World War
  • United States
  • Universities
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.