Enhancing National Security through Innovative Force Pre-Positioning
Abstract
In an era of transnational terrorist organizations, rogue nations and international uncertainty, a successful U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) must be supported by flexible and responsive military power. Sea, air, and land forces and resources should be creatively pre-positioned and available for expeditious employment in the world's contentious regions. Forward presence is a key element of the national security framework of the United States. It reflects the values of most Americans, is consistent with a grand strategy of primacy, and is articulated in both the NSS and the National Military Strategy. Based on the uncertain nature of emerging threats, and the range of military operations in which U.S. military forces may participate, traditional thinking in terms of forward presence must be discarded in lieu of a pre-positioned force that leverages technology and exploits the sea as the world's largest international maneuver space. The Joint Operations Concepts (JOpsC) were articulated as a means of defining the path to the development of future strategies, systems, technologies, and procedures. They provide a set of guidelines describing how the Joint Force intends to operate during the next 15-20 years. Accordingly, it is appropriate to consider future forward presence initiatives through the lens of JOpsC common core capabilities. An effective sea-based pre-positioning system of the future must facilitate the introduction of tailored, capabilities-based, and persistent joint expeditionary forces in accordance with JOpsC guidance. While continuing to maintain the Sea Base as a future vision, the U.S. should not squander the opportunity to enhance its national security while waiting on advances in technology to make the Sea Base a reality. The nation should seek the available, nearer-term benefits of a Joint Pre-positioning and Assembly Concept (JPAC), integrating shore and sea-based pre-positioning sites.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA431836
Entities
People
- Robert S. Teufel
Organizations
- United States Army War College