Covid-19 Response Update: January 11-18
A roundup of the recent developments in the military’s response to Covid-19 by the CSIS International Security Program.
Topic: Forces
Read the most recent CSIS research on U.S. military force structure.
Covid-19 Response Update: December 8-January 10
A roundup of the recent developments in the military’s response to Covid-19 by the CSIS International Security Program.
Bad Idea: The Officer-Enlisted Divide
The officer-enlisted divide stymies the effectiveness of today’s armed forces, writes Nicholas Wood. Merging officers and enlisted into one hierarchical pyramid will unleash untapped leadership potential, remove redundancies, and put people in the positions for which they are best suited.
Bad Idea: Assuming Trade Depends on the Navy
Navy and shipbuilding advocates tell us that global patrols of U.S. warships constantly protect sea-borne commerce. But this myth places demands for presence on the Navy that degrades its readiness.
U.S. Military Forces in FY 2022: Space, SOF, Civilians, and Contractors
In the latest paper of the FY 2022 Military Forces series, Mark Cancian discusses the newly-formed U.S. Space Force as it struggles to find an identity, special operations forces as they adjust from irregular warfare to great power conflict, and debates on the role of DOD civilians and contractors.
Bad Idea: Overpaying for Cocaine
The Department of Defense, alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, seizes enormous quantities of cocaine in transit to the United States each year. But DoD needs better metrics to capture exactly how much over-market value it “pays” for the cocaine it seizes.
Bad Idea: Geographic Combatant Commands
Today, seven geographic COCOMs are responsible for integrating forces across all domains for military operations within their respective Areas of Responsibility. But in today’s increasingly complex, connected, and multipolar strategic environment, the geographic COCOM structure is an outdated and counterproductive bad idea.
Bad Idea: Divest to Invest
As DoD pushes to divest legacy platforms, it must consider whether existing forces are capable of meeting operational demands without straining personnel and platforms. If not, the mission set may need to change.
Covid-19 Response Update: November 20-December 7
A roundup of the recent developments in the military’s response to Covid-19 by the CSIS International Security Program.
Bad Idea: Wishing Away Global Commitments
The forthcoming National Defense Strategy will likely call for reductions in day-to-day deployments to focus on China. But if the administration cannot specify the necessary tradeoffs, it must build the force necessary for continued global engagement.