Best of All Worlds: Full Spectrum Conflict, LIC, and the Transformation of the Army

摘要

The findings of the paper's research indicate that the U.S. Army has undertaken a sweeping transformation that promises to create a force that will be prepared for a broad range of low intensity conflict (LIC) missions without having created the necessary LIC doctrine, a training plan that will produce the leaders required, or a culture that is willing to embrace the mission. The American way of war and our historic aversion to low intensity conflict are players in this oversight. Recent events have forced an awakening in our Army. The need for transformation has been made apparent. Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Kosovo are cases in point. The Army's efforts to adjust can be traced back to CSA Meyer and the High Technology Light Division (HTLD). General Franks addressed the growing need for transformation in the early nineties. By the Kosovo deployment in 1999, there were few demurrers to CSA Shinseki's transformation. Although a grand ambition, the transformation force is being built without capstone doctrine. The new FMs, although very promising, have not been published and the efforts at Ft. Lewis to produce TTP are not synchronized with Ft. Leavenworth's capstone doctrine. The education and training required to produce this network centric force is not yet clearly envisioned. Moreover, the culture of the Army has not yet been transformed to embrace this bold new world. Time remains, but the Army must act fast.