The U.S. Army Division: The Continuous Evolution to Remain Relevant
Abstract
United States Army Divisions have continuously evolved since their introduction during the Revolutionary War. Initially employed as administrative headquarters, The U.S. eventually employed divisions to integrate and synchronized combined arms. Divisions were temporary structures until the National Defense Act of 1916 solidified the division as a permanent structure. Prior to the First World War the U.S. organized the Army around regiments. After the First World War and through the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Army would remain centered around divisions. The Modular Brigade Combat Team has changed the nature of Army structure to provide a more flexible force structure to support combatant commanders in the current operating environment. While critics have called for the elimination of the division as an echelon of command, the modular division has evolved to a relevant formation that can deploy as a Joint Task Force, integrate joint effects for subordinate units, provide a common operating picture across brigade boundaries, and is an important echelon to develop one and two star flag officers. The division will remain an important echelon of command for the foreseeable future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA589319
Entities
People
- Christopher Kennedy
Organizations
- United States Army War College