The Army Brigade Combat Team: Can It Meet the Army's Needs Until 2010?

Abstract : This monograph addresses the effectiveness of the current Army brigade combat team structure as the Army begins move into the 21st century. More specifically, it addresses the the period between now and 2010, when the Force 21 Initiative will begin implementation. The monograph uses a set of criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the current Army brigade combat team structure. This criteria is combined arms, command and control, lethality and survivability, mobility, and flexibility. The USMC Marine Expeditionary Unit is scrutinized as a possible example of how another service has organized forces for ground combat for current and near future operations. Additionally, an analysis of Army and Marine involvement in Grenada and Somalia serves as a vehicle to observe the actual performance of these units and compare it with current doctrine. The monograph argues that the Army has an effective doctrine regarding the organization and employment of its brigade combat teams, and does not require radical change to be more effective. The monograph supports this conclusion by evaluating the brigade combat team against the criteria, and by observing recent actions in Grenada and Somalia.