Accession Number:

ADA379899

Title:

Contingency Operations: Providing Critical Capabilities Poses Challenges

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON DC NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DIV

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

2000-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

35.0

Abstract:

The United States has been providing forces to Bosnia since 1995 and to Kosovo since 1999. The Army provides almost all U.S. ground forces deployed in the Balkans. As of May 2000, the United States had about 4,300 military personnel in Bosnia and 5,500 in Kosovo. Although the Armys divisions each have over 10,000 troops that could theoretically be used to meet these requirements, not all divisions are available for these missions. Moreover, although the number of troops deployed may appear small in relationship to the divisions size, their readiness to deploy for their wartime mission is disrupted by even these small deployments. In addition, we reported in May 1999 that participation in the Bosnia operation adversely affected the combat capability of units deployed there. For example, soldiers deployed in contingency operations do more guard and policing actions than tasks associated with operating their M-1 tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES)
• *MILITARY PERSONNEL
• *DEPLOYMENT
• *BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA
• MILITARY OPERATIONS
• MILITARY ASSISTANCE
• MISSIONS

Subject Categories:

• Military Forces and Organizations
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE