Capabilities-Based Force and Army Force Structure: Can we Support the Objectives Outlined in the QDR?

Abstract

The Bush administration released its 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) in September 2001. There were several changes to this version over the previous one. The biggest change was going from a threat based' to a capabilities based' force. Given today's unstable world situation is the QDR's capabilities-based force, four-objective strategy achievable? In every operation since WWII Army soldiers were required. The Army is capped out at approximately 1.11 Million (480,000 Active; 263,000 Reservists and 367,000 National Guard). It is not clear that the Army will have enough resources to accomplish its QDR objectives. What element of the Army will participate in homeland security? Will we continue to support peace, peacekeeping, humanitarian support with active forces, or turn that role over to the National Guard? Will the National Guard need to play a bigger role in deterring aggression forward, or be totally responsible for small scale contingencies? Will the administration pass additional guidance restating the roles, responsibilities and missions the U.S. will or will not support.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 07, 2003
Accession Number
ADA414082

Entities

People

  • Michael P. Kelliher

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Army Personnel
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Force Structure
  • Governments
  • Homeland Defense
  • Homeland Security
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • United States
  • United States European Command
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies