To Determine the Feasibility of Transforming a National Guard Divisional Brigade to an Interim Brigade Combat Team

摘要

No element of national power is more clearly viewed as a visible sign of American determination to shape the international environment than the presence of ground forces overseas. The President and Secretary of Defense have used the Army over the years to flex American muscle in many places around the world. Since the end of the Cold War, the Army has struggled to adjust to requirements as well as maintain a healthy total force. Our reliance on Reserve Component units to accomplish the mission has been expanding during this period. Use of Army Reserve and National Guard forces has increased and will continue to play a vital role in US Army operations stateside and abroad. Four significant actions have taken place to enhance Army capabilities to project the nations will. First, the concept of Total Force is attributed to Defense Secretary Laird who directed in 1970 that a Total force be considered when planning, programming, manning, and equipping DoD forces. Second, congressional mandates for Active Army support to the Reserve Components initiatives were started to close the gap in relations and to improve training and readiness. Third was consistent support of senior Army leadership to forge the spirit of cooperation of all components. And fourth was the Current CSA announcement and selection of a National Guard Brigade to be one of the first six Interim Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) as the Army builds momentum for the Objective Force. This thesis will focus on the feasibility of transforming a Divisional National Guard Brigade to an IBCT and its relevance in shaping the Objective Force.