Increasing Combat Support and Combat Service Support Units in the U.S. Military

摘要

The Department of Defense effort to downsize the military created a significant reliability on contractors for Combat Support (CS) and Combat Service Support (CSS) within a theater of operations. The military is in now undergoing dramatic transformation of its forces. Therefore, it has an option to buy back the CS and CSS support required for high intensity conflict. Several studies in the past assert an economic benefit by outsourcing CS and CSS capabilities to maximize the number of combat troops available for deployment. This study focuses on CS and CSS issues related to soldier support and survivability as opposed to the pure financial benefit of outsourcing. This study also examines the negative impact of contracting core military support competencies. This strategic research paper discusses some of the problems with the existing military/contractor force mix. It proposes reallocating CS and CSS units in the Active Component and Reserve Component to support the full spectrum of operational support requirements of one major regional high intensity conflict for a five division scenario. This is based on Operation Iraqi Freedom while additionally meeting the scheduled rotational requirements of the force.