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07-26-2010, 03:55 AM
U.S. Army Studies Options for Future Force
By KATE BRANNEN
Published: 23 Jul 2010 20:07
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By December, the U.S. Army will complete a number of studies to help it determine what the force will look like for the next six years, according to a memo from Lt. Gen. Daniel Bolger, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7.
Gen. Martin Dempsey, head of Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), is leading the effort to design the force for 2013-18, according to the memo, signed by Bolger on July 6. Bolger recently replaced Gen. James Thurman, now in charge of Army Forces Command, in the G-3/5/7 role, which is part of TRADOC.
The memo outlines the study schedule and pinpoints who is in charge of the various efforts.
Dempsey must complete analysis of "the Army's most critical brigade level force design, force mix issues, and Warfighting Functional Strategies," in time to influence the Force Management Review for the Pentagon's next two program objective memorandums, the memo states.
By December, TRADOC must complete its assessments and recommendations for the future force. Those assessments need to consider upper-level guidance, lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan, and insights from the Army's Unified Quest war-gaming exercise, according to the memo.
One of the Army's key goals for the 2013-18 period is to increase the time at home between deployments for the active and reserve forces.
For 2012-14, the Army wants to provide its soldiers in the active force two years at home between one-year deployments and four years at home for the reserve component, according to the memo.
For 2015-17, the Army wants to increase those numbers to three years at home for the active force and five years for the reserves.
From 2012 to 2014, the Army plans on 20 brigade combat teams (15 in the active component and five in the reserves) and 90,000 "worth of enablers" to support combatant command requirements. Those numbers drop to 15 brigade combat teams (12 active and three in the reserves) and 72,000 worth of enablers.
"Requirements will increase for Army forces to conduct overseas engagements activities over this period," the memo says.
The Army needs to develop a "strategic narrative and identify" a transition point for moving to three years at home between deployments for the active force, and five years at home for the Army National Guard and Reserve, according to the memo.
The Army also is carrying out a cost-benefit analysis of other options - for example, 27 months between nine-month deployments versus the one- to three-years ratio, the memo says. That study is expected to be completed in August.
The office of the Army vice chief of staff, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, is responsible for developing and revising generating force requirements "based on new policy and programs." That won't be completed until November, the memo says.
The Army's G-8 office and the office of the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology will develop a revised modernization strategy, with a deadline of Sept. 1.
According to the memo, the Army is conducting analysis in all of these areas throughout the summer, with campaign modeling to begin shortly.
Toward the end of August, Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, is expected to provide guidance for the 2013-17 spending plan. Casey is being updated throughout the process and will begin the approval process for the finalized plans later in the fall.
Work on the 2014-18 plans will continue through next summer.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4720962&c=AME&s=LAN
By KATE BRANNEN
Published: 23 Jul 2010 20:07
Print Print | Print Email
By December, the U.S. Army will complete a number of studies to help it determine what the force will look like for the next six years, according to a memo from Lt. Gen. Daniel Bolger, deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7.
Gen. Martin Dempsey, head of Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), is leading the effort to design the force for 2013-18, according to the memo, signed by Bolger on July 6. Bolger recently replaced Gen. James Thurman, now in charge of Army Forces Command, in the G-3/5/7 role, which is part of TRADOC.
The memo outlines the study schedule and pinpoints who is in charge of the various efforts.
Dempsey must complete analysis of "the Army's most critical brigade level force design, force mix issues, and Warfighting Functional Strategies," in time to influence the Force Management Review for the Pentagon's next two program objective memorandums, the memo states.
By December, TRADOC must complete its assessments and recommendations for the future force. Those assessments need to consider upper-level guidance, lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan, and insights from the Army's Unified Quest war-gaming exercise, according to the memo.
One of the Army's key goals for the 2013-18 period is to increase the time at home between deployments for the active and reserve forces.
For 2012-14, the Army wants to provide its soldiers in the active force two years at home between one-year deployments and four years at home for the reserve component, according to the memo.
For 2015-17, the Army wants to increase those numbers to three years at home for the active force and five years for the reserves.
From 2012 to 2014, the Army plans on 20 brigade combat teams (15 in the active component and five in the reserves) and 90,000 "worth of enablers" to support combatant command requirements. Those numbers drop to 15 brigade combat teams (12 active and three in the reserves) and 72,000 worth of enablers.
"Requirements will increase for Army forces to conduct overseas engagements activities over this period," the memo says.
The Army needs to develop a "strategic narrative and identify" a transition point for moving to three years at home between deployments for the active force, and five years at home for the Army National Guard and Reserve, according to the memo.
The Army also is carrying out a cost-benefit analysis of other options - for example, 27 months between nine-month deployments versus the one- to three-years ratio, the memo says. That study is expected to be completed in August.
The office of the Army vice chief of staff, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, is responsible for developing and revising generating force requirements "based on new policy and programs." That won't be completed until November, the memo says.
The Army's G-8 office and the office of the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology will develop a revised modernization strategy, with a deadline of Sept. 1.
According to the memo, the Army is conducting analysis in all of these areas throughout the summer, with campaign modeling to begin shortly.
Toward the end of August, Gen. George Casey, the Army chief of staff, is expected to provide guidance for the 2013-17 spending plan. Casey is being updated throughout the process and will begin the approval process for the finalized plans later in the fall.
Work on the 2014-18 plans will continue through next summer.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4720962&c=AME&s=LAN