Army Echelon Redesign -- Ramifications for the U.S. Air Force
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DoD) is currently undertaking one of the most aggressive transformation efforts in history. This paper addresses one aspect of the U.S. Army's transformation initiative: "echelon redesign." Furthermore, the paper analyzes the potential impact of these organizational changes on the U.S. Air Force's ability to support the Army both in peacetime and in future joint operations. Chapter 1 provides definitions of terms and concepts and outlines the scope and goals of DoD's and the Army's respective transformation programs. Chapter 2 looks at specific aspects of the Army's and the Air Force's current organizational structures, their functional alignment, and habitual relationships to provide a baseline for comprehending proposed future changes. Specifically, how the Army's long-standing corps and division structure dovetails with Air Force Air Support Operations Groups (ASOG), their associated Air Support Operations Squadrons (ASOS), embedded Air Support Operations Centers (ASOC), and Weather Squadrons (WS). Chapter 3 identifies the catalysts for the Army's echelon redesign efforts, and maps out the proposed changes to the Army's organizational structure. This chapter looks at the specific implications of the Army's echelon redesign program in the context of their proposed Unit of Employment Y (UEy) and Unit of Employment X (UEx) headquarters elements, and the primary warfighting echelon known as Units of Action (UA). Chapter 4 uses the DOTMLPF construct to identify the ramifications that echelon redesign will have on the Air Force's ability to integrate with, and provide support to, the Army in the conduct of future operations. Specifically, as the Army grows their Brigade Combat Teams, what are the DOTMLPF implications for their habitually assigned Air Force ASOGs, ASOSs, and ASOCs? Finally, the conclusion provides recommendations on how the Army and the Air Force can best partner together in the interest of optimizing future joint operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 08, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA477069
Entities
People
- John C. Berry
Organizations
- Air War College