Continued:

No one would suggest emasculating Active Duty forces by stripping every heavy weapons system. Certainly tanks, Bradleys, and cannons are required in limited numbers at the right time to prevent a Blackhawk Down from recurring. Every light brigade should have an element of heavy support. It simply turns the paradigm upside down to say those skills become low density in the Active Army, while beefing up the Guard to be prepared to fight the total war. It may be wise to maintain several brigades of heavy combat punch in the Active Component as a rapid response force for high-risk operations, where heavier defensive response could be anticipated, but not more than can be floated to an appropriate beach within two or three weeks. If additional heavy equipment is required, then most likely, we will have time for a truly national response, summoning the National Guard to fight the big war.

Some will argue the National Guard will not be as proficient in heavy mechanized combat as the Active Army. That may be true, but it is also irrelevant. No force in the history of the world has ever been as proficient as our current full-time Army. The U.S. National Guard is currently second-best, and with the enemies we are going to face in the GWOT, a heavy National Guard with one or two months of heavy training after mobilization will perform superbly. If the time comes for the United States to face another industrialized and heavily mechanized and armored foe, then the Nation will invariably have additional time to prepare and train to an even higher standard.

Soldiers will remain in components longer, as they will be doing exactly what they choose. If they desire to serve shifts, there are two other distinct components as option: Guard and Reserve soldiers can rely on a stable civilian life until the time comes for strategic action, rather than just throwing bodies into the breech to the load off of the Active Army.

Fundamental remissioning of the Active Duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve will provide real choices for volunteer soldiers, place the appropriate firepower in the appropriate component, and improve strength throughout the services by eliminating recruiting conflict between the elements. It will best position the United States of America to fight the GWOT, while both building the greatest expeditionary force and maintaining the best, most effective heavy, armored, mechanized force in the world.

Roger T. Aeschliman
MAJ, U.S. Army, KSARNG