Preventing a Hollow Army: 20th Century Lessons for the 21st Century
Abstract
This thesis researches the theory of a "hollow force" that described the U.S. Army after the Vietnam War and determines whether the theory applies to the Army today. The theory describes the conditions of a "hollow force" using seven factors: low support for the military, pressure to cut defense spending, difficulties in maintaining an all-volunteer force, declining pay, poor morale, delays in fielding modern armaments and equipment, and inadequate attention to the maintenance of existing equipment. The factors are used to conduct a comparative analysis between the post-Vietnam War Army and the force of today as leaders prepare for the security challenges of the future in a fiscally constrained environment. The reductions in force structure and defense spending that followed the Vietnam War appear similar to current defense plans; however, despite the use of the term "hollow force" by military and political leaders to describe where the Army is headed, not all of the seven factors are applicable today. The thesis of this research is that the post-Vietnam Army was a "hollow force," but that theory does not apply to the Army today.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 08, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA563122
Entities
People
- Ethan J. Diven
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College