Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

5 things the Army does during drawdowns

I mean, besides get smaller. The new issue of Parameters has a good article by Major Jason Warren summarizing the lessons of past drawdowns. I think the five lessons are basically right, but I don’t see much evidence that today’s Army is following number four. And I worry that the last lesson may be misleading ...

Via Flickr/USAG-Humphreys
Via Flickr/USAG-Humphreys
Via Flickr/USAG-Humphreys

I mean, besides get smaller.

I mean, besides get smaller.

The new issue of Parameters has a good article by Major Jason Warren summarizing the lessons of past drawdowns. I think the five lessons are basically right, but I don’t see much evidence that today’s Army is following number four. And I worry that the last lesson may be misleading in today’s environment. We’ve only had three drawdowns since becoming a major power, and one of them (post-World War II) was really bad while another of them (post-Gulf War) was done very complacently, with the result that the U.S. Army went into Iraq in 2003 unprepared for what it faced.

"1. The drawdown of American forces has been a cyclical part of the nation’s military experience.

2. Competition between the Regular Army and National Guard (militia) has always been part of the American military discourse.

3. The Army has historically focused on education and professionalization as mitigating factors during drawdowns. 

4. Drawdowns have frequently resulted in cuts to headquarters elements, enabling forces, and niche capabilities that have been detrimental to future operations.

5. Conventional capabilities have been a better investment over past drawdowns than technological panaceas and unconventional forces."

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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