Reforming Army Culture for 21st Century Wars
Abstract
This Strategy Research Project (SRP) describes the kind of wars the U.S. Army will likely engage in over the next 20-30 years. It argues that the Army must adapt to a new complex sphere of expertise; it then offers recommendations on how the Army can reform its culture to succeed in these future wars. Transformation set the azimuth for change in the Army. Modularity offered structural flexibility and increased Army capabilities. Yet current Army culture and personnel systems support traditional warfighting and leadership concepts. The culture supports a view of officership that is appropriate for symmetric warfare, but not asymmetric warfare. Though slow to change, current operations are forcing the Army to adapt its culture and systems to meet the requirements for a counterinsurgency in Iraq and to prepare for similar asymmetric operations worldwide. Reforming Army culture, as a component of transformation, will change officership along with Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier training and development. This reformation is an investment in the Army's most precious resource, its people.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA482258
Entities
People
- Jeffrey A. Marquez
Organizations
- United States Army War College