Considerations for Planning Overseas Presence
Abstract
U.S. military forces permanently stationed abroad have played and will continue to play a major role in supporting national strategic objectives. Since the end of the Cold War, the Department of Defense has been under pressure by both internal and external forces to realign its overseas assets to make a better match with the realities of a new and ever changing geo-political landscape. However, with exception of major force reductions in Europe, shifts in these assets have been largely incremental, while over the same period the number, types, and locations of overseas military missions have changed dramatically. The 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) report calls for strengthening the forward deterrent posture of U.S. forces, with an aim towards reducing reliance on CONUS-based reinforcements. This paper identifies key strategic-level factors and considerations that bear on the planning of overseas presence, and that should be useful in evaluating new overseas presence and basing requirements currently being developed in response to the new QDR guidance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 11, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA404187
Entities
People
- Robert S. Carter
Organizations
- United States Army War College