vandergriff_lessons_ OIF

Lessons of Operation Iraq Freedom : 

Lessons of Operation Iraq Freedom Highly-trained units, led by innovative and flexible leaders will defeat a larger enemy! A smaller, professional force, supported by precision weaponry and good intelligence outmaneuvered dominated its adversary. Tactical units, with sufficient training, performed superbly. Balance of forces -SOF, light, heavy and air – optimized performance. Still room for improvement! Extraordinary measures required to create ready units By default, “unit manning” replaced the Individual Replacement System-(peacetime personnel policies waived) Extended, stealthy deployment (3ID brigades sequentially deployed for Operation Desert Winter/Spring, May 02-Jan 03) Obsolete planning process required unnecessary force levels Too many levels of command slow decision making Might have reached Baghdad even faster!

Obstacles To Transformation : 

Obstacles To Transformation WW II / Cold War personnel system outmoded IRS keeps units at low levels of training readiness Turnover and turbulence require constant retraining Army units in Korea the most unready in the Army OPMS based on obsolete concepts Constant movement prohibits true professionalism Officers become careerists WW II / Cold War philosophy dominates doctrine and force structure Tiered readiness means some units are always second class citizens Industrial approach to war (2nd Generation war) does not take advantage of highly professional units, synergy created by joint operations, and modern technology ATLDP and other findings: “Army Culture is Out of Balance,” and it has become “a culture of micromanagement” [other services are the same]

What We Can Do Now! : 

What We Can Do Now! Immediate actions (Fix Now!) Embrace maneuver warfare doctrine as demonstrated in Iraq Start restructuring as the Army returns from Iraq Create battle groups Replace individual replacement system with unit manning Begin Home Basing personnel Institute unit rotation to Korea and Europe Streamline hierarchal organizations by eliminating needless headquarters Phase out unnecessary capabilities that are irrelevant due to current conditions, e.g., Short range Air Defense (SHORAD) in an era of total air dominance Evolutionary actions (Fix Over Time!) Change DOPMA Replace “Up or Out” with Up or Stay—All Ranks! Reduce number of branches in officer corps Downsize the officer corps Create a rigorous officer accession system Establish a core of highly educated civilian and military personnel, steeped in joint warfare & doctrine at the operational and strategic levels

Where to Begin? : 

Where to Begin? Focus on personnel and unit transformation for immediate action Create policies to make the Army more effective in the near term We can do much better with what we have today! Current 10 Divisions can transform into 24 battle groups using a unit manning system Unit-manned formations are more capable than IRS-based units Home-basing improves retention and performance Start the process with the Personnel Transformation/21st Century Commission Mission: provide a workable roadmap for personnel reform Composed of military and civilian experts Report directly to the Secretary of Defense Provide recommendations for the FY05 Budget submission.