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Accession Number:
ADA326574
Title:
If Civilian Leaders Overrule Military Leaders and Direct Them to Eliminate a Division, What Type of Division Should be Cut: Army Heavy or Marine?
Descriptive Note:
Research rept.,
Corporate Author:
ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
Report Date:
1997-04-30
Pagination or Media Count:
51.0
Abstract:
This paper addresses the developing political forces and budgetary issues that may lead civilian leaders to overrule the objections of senior military leaders and direct them to eliminate a division either an Army heavy or a Marine division. Should this happen, the Department of Defense DoD should eliminate a Marine division, not an Army heavy division. This paper does not address whether the DoD should cut an Army light division. This recommendation includes a detailed analysis of the following arguments. First, if all of the Marine Corpss infantry regiments were employed simultaneously, approximately three of the Marine Corpss eight regiments could neither embark aboard amphibious shipping nor marry up with maritime pre-positioned squadron MPSRON equipment in a benign environment. Second, the Army heavy division with its supporting elements including its corps slice and supporting air force possesses superior fire power both direct and indirect, compared to the Marine division and its supporting forces found in the Marine Expeditionary Force. Third, in a rapid power projection military, greater reliance on reserve forces cannot substitute adequately for active forces.
Distribution Statement:
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
