The Dilution of Field Artillery Capabilities

Abstract

The degradation of the U.S. Army's field artillery does not lie in weapon systems or technology, but in its people. The branch is not broken, but it is not at the level of effectiveness it was at immediately following the successful invasion of Iraq in 2003. Furthermore, the nonstandard missions given to the field artillery are not going away anytime soon. It is imperative that Army leaders make parallel core competency training a necessity once again. Furthermore, the branch must take an active approach by providing mandatory remedial training whenever time permits. The branch will never reach pre-Global War on Terrorism levels until the present large-scale counterinsurgencies are subdued and the need for massive numbers of troops dissipates. In the interim, the field artillery will continue to perform the jobs given to it while relying on technology to ensure its place on the current battlefield. "Renown awaits the commander who first restores artillery to its prime importance on the battlefield."

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA505181

Entities

People

  • P. H. Kaine

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan Conflict
  • Artillery
  • Artillery Units
  • Attrition
  • Counterinsurgency
  • Dilution
  • Indirect Fire
  • Iraqi-War
  • Marine Corps
  • Military Organizations
  • Standards
  • Training
  • United States
  • War
  • Warfare
  • Weapons
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design