Force Projection Logistics Atrophy: Affliction and Treatment
Abstract
Is the government's fiscal modus operandi leading to strategic force projection logistics atrophy? The national debt is at its highest point in decades and is routinely cited in the media as a threat to national security. Government harboring of excess has grown more socially unacceptable; strategic logistic planners cannot be assured of a vast pool of assets to use as a buffer against unforeseen or changing operational requirements. Many federal programs have come under the budget knife to include the military. Civil and military leaders have had to make many tough decisions regarding what must be cut. Program cuts and manning choices have had direct impacts on the U.S.'s force projection and expeditionary warfare capabilities. The United States' ability to strategically project and sustain a credible force is being incrementally diminished. This paper offers a model for appreciating force projection logistic requirement-to-capability ratios; examines the current state of the United States' force projection viability; and recommends steps to be taken to stem the emaciation of the U.S.'s ability to rapidly deploy credible military force anywhere on the globe.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA547429
Entities
People
- Michael J. Harlan
Organizations
- United States Army War College