A Combat Arm's View of the New Defense Acquisition Strategy

The dramatic reshaping of the world during the past three years has put the United states in a position to significantly reduce its defense budget. Not only will this reduction affect DoD's armed forces but also its material acquisition process. The purpose of this paper is to assess the new defense acquisition strategy through the eyes, of the user. It uses a historical vignette to illustrate the impacts on the soldier of decisions made in acquisition. It examines the current plans for technology insertion as well as the external challenges our field forces may encounter. Recommendations include continued modernization, reasonable procurement to research and development investment ratios, and adequate user representation on the Defense Technology Board.