Accession Number:

ADA561577

Title:

Combined Arms Maneuver, Wide Area Security, and Dynamic Capabilities

Descriptive Note:

Strategy Research Project

Corporate Author:

ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA

Personal Author(s):

• Davey, Michael N.

Report Date:

2012-03-21

Pagination or Media Count:

46.0

Abstract:

The military commitments of the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq are ending. The present economic and political challenges have left the defense department with a significantly reduced budget. The reduction in spending impacts the three pillars of strategic execution personnel, doctrine, and materiel. With reduced resources for critical training and acquisitions, the billpayer must be an increase in the level of acceptable risk that our country is willing to carry. To mitigate these risks, the Army has chosen to conduct Combined Arms Maneuver CAM and Wide Area Security WAS core competencies. This paper considers the Armys decision to simultaneously execute both responsibilities, and proposes a novel framework for considering operational risk. These commitments reflect a static view of strategic risk and capabilities that is at best anachronistic, at worst a path to nowhere. The reduction in funding, manning and training resources will not allow the Army to do both efficiently. This paper proposes that instead of seeking a certain level of competence in discrete, strategic capabilities, the Army needs to build and to leverage its dynamic capabilities in essence, build its ability to rapidly develop capabilities that match emergent strategic needs.

Descriptors:

• *AREA SECURITY
• *MILITARY OPERATIONS
• *WIDE AREA NETWORKS
• AFGHANISTAN
• ARMS CONTROL
• DECISION MAKING
• POLITICAL SCIENCE

Subject Categories:

• Computer Systems
• Defense Systems
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE