In response to this change, a new operational level "umbrella concept" has been developed to describe how Army forces will operate in the future as the land component in joint, combined, and interagency operations. It builds on the strengths of the current AirLand Battle doctrine. Of importance for the future is the Army's role in achieving deterrence through demonstrating a credible capability to project decisive combat power; the interaction and synchronization of activities throughout the continuum of military operations; and a recognition of the Army's role in peacetime activities that improves demo cratic and economic development of our allies and friends. The revision of FM 100-5, Operations, the basic doctrinal publication of the Army, is an important task. While reaffirming the basic principles and tenets of AirLand Battle doctrine, the updated version will reflect a wider coverage of global commitments, the non-linear nature of future battlefields, and greater emphasis on power projection operations from the CONUS base. AirLand Operations (ALO) is the name of the new overarching doctrinal concept that will replace AirLand Battle. Joint Operations In the 1990's and beyond, Army forces will be in an operational environment which is generally joint, usually combined, and frequently interagency. Joint Doctrine will assist commanders in conducting successful operations with other services. The basic purpose of continuing to refine our joint doctrine is to capitalize on the complementary capabilities of the individual services in order to best meet our overall national security objectives. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the development of joint doctrine continued unabated. The war presented some dramatic challenges and opportunities. Joint doctrine was used and sometimes developed by deployed forces in such areas as ground combat operations, shipboard helicopter operations, combat search and rescue, special operations, and many others. Doctrinal lessons learned are being included in the development of all future joint publications and training efforts. Combined Operations The U.S. Army of the 1990s and beyond must remain a strategic, global force. Inherent in this responsibility is a strategy based on regional alliances which require interoperability and standardization between U.S. forces and our allies. Combined/coalition doctrine and procedures are required to provide guidance for the conduct of multinational operations. Many of the principles institutionalized during past training in NATO, with the Republic of Korea, and with other alliance arrangements were validated during Operation Desert Storm. However, the Army of the future cannot rely solely on principles evolved through mature alliances. As force structure and forward deployed forces are reduced, the Army will be subjected to increased potential for operations in immature theaters. To meet these challenges, the Army is developing combined/coalition doctrine based on the new AirLand Operations concept and emerging lessons from ODS. Tough, realistic training, as demonstrated by soldiers competing for the Expert Field Medical Badge at Ft Meade, MD. will remain a top priority of the reshaped Army of the 1990s. IV. Reshaping The Total Force The Army's accomplishments in the past year have added another important chapter to the proud history of our great institution. While answering our Nation's call to Southwest Asia, the Army was already deeply involved in fundamental adjustments.... In size, it will be reminiscent of the Army prior to World War II and the Korean War. In capability, however, it must not resemble those armies. It must not only retain all the capabilities of Operation Desert Storm, but it also must improve upon those capabilities by incorporating lessons learned and new technological developments. -Secretary of the Army Michael P.W. Stone Our plan is to reshape the force of the future to maintain its viability as a fighting force. We must maintain the proper mix and number of active and reserve forces and maintain our lead in equipment superiority by targeting research and development funds on leap-ahead technologies. Structuring The Total Army of the Future A central task of the Army leadership is the effective management of change, both to ensure the Army retains its unique capabilities, and that it remains a credible element of national military power. Profound change in the security environment, as reflected in the new National Military Strategy, will have fundamental implications for tomorrow's Army. Besides being substantially smaller, the Army will be largely CONUS-based. In a diverse, unpredictable environment, the Army must be versatile, deployable, lethal, sustainable, and expansible. The Army's unique capabilities provide the National Command Authorities (NCA) a power projection force to deter potential adversaries and if necessary to defeat them decisively in sustained combat. The Army shapes its forces to fulfill the U.S. need for a worldwide, sustained land combat capability. Its structure is carefully tailored within manpower and fiscal constraints to optimize warfighting capabilities against the multiple and varied threats to U.S. interests abroad. The Army is composed of armored, light, and special operations forces (SOF) that offer flexible capabilities in any environment. U.S. Army armored forces, consisting of armored and mechanized infantry divisions, provide an unequaled capability to fight and win against armored and mechanized enemy threats. Light infantry divisions provide the NCA the unique capability to place capable, versatile combat power on the ground anywhere in the world within hours of a crisis. The versatile nature of SOF provides a large range of options across the entire continuum of military operations. SOF consist of special forces (SF), ranger, special operations aviation (SOA), psychological warfare (PSYOP), and civil affairs (CA) units. Special forces plan, conduct, and support unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, direct action, special reconnaissance and counter terrorism as primary missions. Ranger forces are highly skilled light infantry and can be employed in small groups to execute unique direct action operations. Army SOA provide specialized aviation support to SOF. Army Force Modernization is an essential component in achieving power projection as the Army becomes smaller. It is the continuous process by which the Army develops and fields warfighting capabilities to deter war, and, if necessary, fight and win. It includes the integration of doctrine, organization, leader development, sustainment, and training programs with new and product improved equipment to produce the highest quality, most lethal and survivable force possible within available resources. Modernization initiatives before and after deployment to Operation Desert Shield/Storm were key in attaining a ready warfighting force. The success of Desert Storm is an example of the Army's force modernization strategy in action. Threat The threat environment has changed significantly over the past two years. The Army's focus on the Soviet Union for the last forty years has been healthy. The results of the Cold War, Just Cause, and Desert Storm have shown that a doctrine centered on fighting outnumbered and winning against technically challenging equipment produced a flexible and responsive military. Today, the massive integrated forces of the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact have disappeared, but much of the armies' equipment and technology remain. Where and when they will appear in confrontation with U.S. interests, and in what combination with other developments worldwide, cannot be known with precision. The crucial difference today is that significant capabilities exist around the world, but a single threat focus possessing the most advanced capabilities no longer exists. Nevertheless, to win decisively and quickly, with minimum casualties, means the Army must maintain the ability to fight outnumbered and win against capable antagonists in any environment, across the operational continuum. Status of the Current Force The Army is nearing the end of a remarkable era of force modernization. The efforts of the past 15-17 years have produced the most capable and lethal Army in history. The Army is moving toward fielding the Total Force with some systems such as Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, and Apache attack helicopters for close combat, Heavy Expandable Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT), High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), and Heavy Equipment Transports (HET) to provide rapid wheeled mobility to Combat, Combat Support and Combat Service Support units, and Patriot missile systems to destroy hostile aircraft or surface to surface missiles. This modernized equipment fully supports the needs of the warfighting CINCS, and significantly enhances their ability to execute AirLand Battle Doctrine. However, modernization is a journey, not a destination. The journey towards fulfilling this era of modernization is still in progress, with systems such as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) being fielded to support the deep attack, command and control systems such as Multiple Subscriber Equipment (MSE) and Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) to enhance secure communications, plus many other systems included in the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) that are a required part of the Army's overall goal to achieve a balanced force capability. Nonetheless, fiscal constraints prevent the Army from fielding the entire force with some items of equipment. Blackhawk (UH-60) and Kiowa (OH-58D) helicopters are examples. As a result of these fiscal constraints, 30 year old UH-1 and less capable OH-58A/C models will remain in the force and will require a service life extension program to keep them flying. The same is true in the truck |