Book Description

One could argue strongly that since the end of the Second World War .power projection. has been an indispensable characteristic of the U.S. armed forces. Since the early 1990s, however, it has become a fundamental strategic concept in support of the President.s National Security Strategy of the United States. Over 80 percent of U.S. combat forces are now based in the continental United States (CONUS). Forces stationed overseas number only about 200,000, contrasted with over 500,000 during the Cold War. The strategic ambiguity of the post-Cold War era justifies concentrating U.S. forces in CONUS to enable them to respond more effectively to unforeseen crises erupting within a volatile international security environment. But, how are these CONUS-based forces trained, integrated, and packaged to enable them to support optimally the geographic CINCs. requirements? The authors of this monograph argue that the lynch-pin in the power projection strategy of the United States is a completely transformed U.S. Atlantic Command (USACOM). The monograph details how USACOM has been allowed to .evolve. since its inception in 1993 but is yet to achieve its full potential for implementing the CONUS-based power projection strategy. Recognizing USACOM as a principal actor in support of this new strategy, the authors recommend that USACOM should be further transformed into a .Joint Forces Command.. Their analysis exposes the need for a significant review of Title 10 of the U.S. Code and a reexamination of some of the fundamental tenets underlying the structure and command of the U.S. armed forces. The reappraisals they propose will impact the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, the Military Departments, and the unified combatant commands in important ways. To be sure, the very subject of power projection and the authors. recommendations address some of the most basic aspects of the roles and missions of the Services and raise issues very sensitive among the unified combatant commands. Nevertheless, their arguments are unconstrained but persuasive. Although they do not pose solutions in every case, they illuminate the most important and troubling issues.