Strategic Implications of Eliminating the Ammunition Officer Speciality Within the United States Army and a Plan of Action to Ensure Success
Abstract
In 2001 the U. S. Army approved a proposal to merge what previously had been two separate Army Ordnance officer specialties into one specialty. This policy change effective in year 2006 merges the mechanical maintenance (91B) and ammunition officer specialties (91D) into a general ordnance specialty (91D). The overarching rationale for this change was that it was cost inefficient to maintain both the 91B and 91D career tracks and it was exceedingly difficult to maintain a viable professional development regimen for 91D officers. The 91D professional development regimen was principally affected by the post-1989 draw-down that caused the elimination from the active force structure of most of the ammunition units and junior command and staff positions within the Army. At the same time assignment and professional development opportunities for 91B officers were not correspondingly impacted. Although the Army eliminated much ammunition force structure both the Army and the Department of Defense (DoD) retained virtually all of the senior (0-5 and 0-6) 91D positions within DoD. In some headquarters 91D senior officer requirements have increased. The management of ammunition on the battlefield has historically been an enterprise of strategic importance. The Army's ability to manage this critical commodity at the strategic level has greater importance today given the reliance on precision munitions in current and future campaigns. Until now the Army has been the only Service that trains commissioned officers with specific skill sets and bestows a unique ammunition officer specialty. Unless the Army takes action an unqualified officer may in the future encumber a critical ammunition billet with potentially disastrous strategic implications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 03, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA423376
Entities
People
- Craig S. Cotter
Organizations
- United States Army War College