Effectiveness of Army National Guard Combat Units for Major Regional Conflicts:Perception or Reality

摘要

This paper attempts to clear the air on the effectiveness of Army NationalGuard(ARNG) combat units to mobilize for major regional conflicts(MRCs) so that senior Army leaders in all components can make sound decisions on the basis of reality and not perceptions. . .how else in this budget-tightening climate can the Total Army prepare and be ready to fight and win our Nation's wars in the 21st Century. Perceptions of ARNG combat units held by active Army senior officers were obtained by surveying resident students of the U.S. Army War College, Class of 1996. Opinions about the effectiveness of ARNC combat units to mobilize for MRCs, factors hindering effective mobilization, and the optimum employment of ARNG combat units in the post-Cold War period were surveyed. Finally, their recommended changes to ARNG combat units were solicited. Future perspectives and recommendations on an optimum AC/RC mix are included.