The Future of the Field Artillery
Abstract
Since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the Field Artillery (FA) branch, more than any other branch in today's Army, has been asked to conduct in-lieu of missions instead of its core fire support mission in support of the war. This deterioration of core competencies could possibly have a major impact in future operations as the FA branch has also moved to a more strategically important role with an improved ability to perform missions using precision strike weapons. This study will identify how long it would take to: restore FA core competencies in support of Major Combat Operations (MCOs); how the branch could best be balanced in order to support current operations as well as prepare for future operations; when should the branch be ready to conduct operations in either a hybrid or MCO environment; and how much lead time would be needed to ensure success in either operation. Addressed throughout the paper are Doctrine, Organizational, Training, Material, Leadership and Education, Personnel, and Facilities (DOTMLPF) recommendations to enhance the Army's capabilities and capacity to address FA challenges. Recommendations will include options for Army as well as FA initiatives to enhance intraservice operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA518063
Entities
People
- Michael J. Hartig
Organizations
- United States Army War College