• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Introduction

The changing world environment has led to significant planned reductions in Department of Defense (DOD) budgets and force structure. These reductions, along with evolving worldwide threats facing the US, have caused a revision to Army doctrine as reflected in FM 100-5. The new philosophy dictates smaller forward deployed forces and more reliance on CONUS-based contingency forces. The centerpiece of this new philosophy is rapid force projection from CONUS or other, outside-CONUS locations to meet the growing regional threats and crises. Its credibility depends on our ability to deploy, in a timely manner, an appropriate military force that is versatile, lethal, and sustainable.

The Army must be prepared to rapidly deploy up to a five-division contingency force, to include required support and follow-on forces in support of national military objectives. Initial sustainment of this force will be accomplished through the use of Army war reserve stocks. See AWR stocks.Army war reserve (AWR stocksAWR) stocks. Formally called Army reserve stocks, AWR stocks are identified as AWR-1, CONUS; AWR-2, Europe; AWR-3, APA; AWR-4, Pacific; TR-7, WRSA-Korea; AWR-5, Southwest Asia. These stocks, less AWR-3, are focused on regional contingencies and are available to support any combatant CINC's mission.

APA is a new and evolving mission for the US Army that presents challenges for all levels of command and requires the involvement of numerous agencies. Commanders and staff from the unified command level down to the heavy brigade employing the equipment that had been pre-positioned afloat must understand the intricacies and peculiar requirements of this new mission. Each service and echelon of command must be involved in affected areas, including training, organization, accountability, interoperability, communications, and employment. APA equipment provides the combatant commander a "reinforcement capability to enhance an established lodgment." It does not provide the equipment necessary to conduct an amphibious assault operationamphibious assault operationóa mission of the US Marine Corps.

APA provides the combatant CINCs with deployment flexibility and increased capability to respond to a crisis or contingency with a credible force. APA operations contribute mobility and flexibility to this strategy. The existence of this force projection capability is a deterrent to potential adversaries.