Reducing the Number of Active Duty General/Flag Officers
Over years the ratio of Active duty general and flag officers to troops has increased over time. This report reviews the proposal to reduce the number of general/flag officers.
Content Type: Analysis
Read the most recent analysis from CSIS experts on defense-related issues.
Reducing the Number of Senior Executive Service Positions by 25 Percent
Summary Cutting the number of SES is consistent with the widespread desire to cut overhead and the existing DoD direction to cut management headquarters. However, the current number of SES is not out of line with history. Further, DoD has proportionally many fewer SES than the domestic agencies. Download Report Here
Reducing Number of Four-Star Generals/Flag Officers
Summary The administration, SASC, and HASC all agree that some reduction is needed. The Senate would cut many more billets (14) than the House (5). The discussion will be about how many billets to cut and how much latitude DoD has in implementation. Download Report Here
Limiting Size of NSC Staff
Growing in both its staff size and its role in national security decisionmaking, the NSC has assumed more of an operational role rather than focusing on strategic planning and interagency coordination. The NSC has been criticized for its overreach into operational and tactical details. However, as an entity under presidential purview, Congress’s ability to restrict the NSC is a constitutional issue. Due to these challenges and constraints, what is a possible way forward for NSC reform?
Creating OSD “Mission Teams”
Proposals for OSD “Mission Teams” is not new and it is not controversial. Rather it is a mark of good government. The disagreement comes from proposed legislative language. This report reviews congressional remarks and provides a recommendation for moving forward.
The Future of Army Modernization: A Public Survey
This is a public survey on the Future of Army Modernization. This survey is now closed.
Evaluating Future U.S. Army Force Posture in Europe
This report focuses on recalibrating U.S. Army forces in Europe in light of the security challenges posed by a resurgent Russia and offers 37 recommendations for building and a credible and sustainable deterrence posture in Europe over the next decade.
Landing Together
This report provides an assessment of current and future U.S. amphibious capabilities and those of a select group of allies and partners. It further explores options to allow U.S. amphibious forces to leverage partner and allied capabilities for combined operations without sacrificing warfighting capabilities.
Crowdsourcing Defense Reform
This report is the result of a public survey on defense reform, undertaken with two primary goals. First, to garner a broad sense of public opinion on some of the key facets of the defense reform issues. Second, to test opinions against the old axiom that “where you stand depends on where you sit” by requiring respondents to answer several demographic questions.
U.S. Military Forces in FY 2017
It is clear that threats are growing and forces need to grow to meet them. Any further cuts are over and forces will increase assuming budget deals avoid sequestration. This report reviews force structure for each military service and identifies three themes about the forces this year.