BiblioScholar Extending the Operational Relevance of the Current Heavy Mechanized and Armor Force to 2020 and Beyond

Can the U.S. Army's current heavy mechanized and armor force adapt emerging Joint Vision 2020 operational concepts, in order to remain relevant to the land power requirements of combatant commanders across the full range of military operations until the United States Army fields the objective force? This thesis analyses the capabilities of the current heavy force through the prism of the operational concepts articulated in Joint Vision 2020. Dominant maneuver, precision engagement, focused logistics, and fulldimensional protection are expanded into their constituent desired operational capabilities . The wide range of military operations and the complexity of a nonaligned world revealed some key vulnerabilities and gaps in the nation 's warfighting capability and force structure. The fundamental dilemma in balancing capabilities and structure that confronts the Army is especially acute concerning the current heavy mechanized and armor force. As that force has been optimized for decisive land warfare in major combat operations, it became less effective in other, more contemporary operating environments . The thesis demonstrates that the current heavy force can execute most of the desired operational capabilities articulated in the Joint Vision Implementation Master Plan and provide the Joint Force Commander essential capabilities across the range of military operations.