Closing the Door Behind You: How the United States Army Conducts Logistical Withdrawals after Lengthy Operations

Abstract

Through experience gained in the withdrawals from Vietnam and Iraq, the United States Army has developed a system of redeployment that can guide future withdrawals from large-scale, lengthy overseas contingency operations. The elements of this system include establishing property accountability, echeloning of sustainment support, and reconstituting the force. This study compares Army operations during the withdrawal from the Vietnam War and from Iraq at the conclusion of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. It argues that planning for the withdrawal of forces is a critical component of operational planning and must be viewed as the final act of any campaign.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 23, 2013
Accession Number
ADA583868

Entities

People

  • Bryan J. Fencl

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Birds
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • Iraqi-War
  • Lessons Learned
  • Logistics
  • Military Equipment
  • Personnel Management
  • Sectarian Violence
  • Terrorists
  • United States
  • Urban Areas
  • War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies