Ground Forces for a Rapidly Employable Joint Task Force First-Week Capabilities for Short-Warning Conflicts
Abstract
In many military interventions to deter or thwart an invader entering a country friendly to the United States, the United States would benefit greatly from being able to employ-within days rather than weeks-a joint task force that would combine long-range fires from aircraft and missiles with maneuver forces on the ground. Although long-range fires alone might be sufficient in some cases, in many others they would not. If suitable maneuver forces existed and could be used (a function of circumstances), they could greatly enhance the effectiveness of long-range fires, further damage and disrupt the enemy themselves, hedge against some potential failures of the fires, and accomplish other important objectives. They could be especially valuable for conflicts in mixed terrain, and in conflicts in which they linked up with significant friendly forces. They could be quite useful in smaller-scale contingencies as well as major wars. For example, had such forces existed in 1999, more options would have been available to NATO's political leaders in the early stages of the Kosovo operation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA375589
Entities
People
- Eugene C. Gritton
- John Matsumura
- Paul K. Davis
- Randall Steeb
Organizations
- RAND Corporation