Using Army National Guard Combat Battalions for Peace Operations: A Viable Alternative for the Future.
Abstract
Since the end of the Cold War, defense spending has declined as well as active Army force structure, requiring more reliance on the Total Force: the Army Reserve and the National Guard (ARNG),to accomplish ever growing multinational peace time engagement missions. Additionally, National Military Strategy requires a much smaller Active Component (AC) to prepare for and be capable of fighting two near simultaneous Major Theater Wars (MTW). Although the Army has relied on its Reserve Components (RC) to fill critical shortages in Combat Service Support (CSS) and Combat Support (CS) for peace operations, since DESERT STORM, the Army has only deployed two RC combat units to such operations. With a decreasing AC combat force and new and increasing challenges, the Army National Guard divisions' combat battalions provide a tremendous untapped resource to help relieve AC operational tempo (OPTEMPO) and personnel tempo (PERSTEMPO) and free AC combat forces conducting peacekeeping missions, enabling them to train and prepare for their wartime missions. In order to realize the efficiencies of this option, Department of Defense and Army planners must properly, program, train and adequately fund these battalions to assume selected peacekeeping missions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA344426
Entities
People
- William L. Wimbish Iii
Organizations
- United States Army War College