Marching Under Darkening Skies The American Military and the Impending Urban Operations Threat
Abstract
Contemporary international and domestic security environments increasingly demand United States armed services' and unified commands' commitment to military operations on urbanized terrain (MOUT). The nation's soldiers and marines have been fighting in cities for much of the nation's history, but there is evidence that traditional definitions of success under such conditions may no longer apply. Success in accomplishing the assigned military mission can fall short of national political objectives if the cost of that accomplishment includes too great a loss of American or noncombatant life. This report provides an analysis of the U.S. Army's readiness to undertake modern MOUT missions; it also notes shortfalls in the nation's other armed services' urban operations readiness as appropriate. This research was sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development, and Acquisition and by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans and was conducted in the Force Development and Technology Program of the RAND Arroyo Center.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA360503
Entities
People
- Russell W. Glenn
Organizations
- RAND Corporation