United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2002-05-17 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:GAO-02-442 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-442 P0b002ee180385601 f:d02442 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-442 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-442 GAO-02-442 Army personnel Defense contingency planning Military operations Military training Strategic mobility forces Strategic planning Warfare Abrams Tank Army Force XXI Program Black Hawk Helicopter Bradley Fighting Vehicle C-130 Aircraft C-17 Aircraft C-5 Aircraft C-5A Aircraft DOD Quadrennial Defense Review Globemaster Aircraft Hercules Aircraft Interim Armored Vehicle M1 Tank Other Written Product A03357 Military Transformation: Army Actions Needed to Enhance Formation of Future Interim Brigade Combat Teams (17-MAY-02, GAO-02-442). In October 1999, the U.S. Army announced its intentions to transform its forces into a more strategically responsive force that could more rapidly deploy and effectively operate in all types of military operations, whether small-scale contingencies or major theatre wars. Army plans call for an over 30-year transformation that will lead to the ability to deploy a brigade anywhere in the world within 96 hours, a division in 120 hours, and five divisions within 30 days. The first step in this process is to form and equip six Interim Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) by 2008. The IBCT--intended to be a lethal and survivable deterrent force that can be rapidly deployed anywhere in the world--was devised to fill a gap in military capability. The Army's heavy combat forces, though lethal and survivable, are not rapidly deployable, and its light infantry forces are rapidly deployable but lack survivability and lethality. The specific uses that the Commanders in Chief (CINC) envision for the IBCTs vary according to the unique requirements of their respective regions. However, they generally agreed that the IBCTs as envisioned would provide them with a broader choice of capabilities to meet their operational requirements. The Army faces numerous challenges in forming its first IBCT that need to be addressed. For example, some planned combat capabilities will not be present when the IBCT is to be certified for deployment in May 2003. Similarly, training challenges exist since the interim armored vehicle delivery schedule has compressed the time available for training. Army officials believe that the organization created at Fort Lewis to help form the brigades has been effective in addressing day-to-day challenges, thereby permitting brigade officials to concentrate on critical training and operational matters. Further, the Army has a process in place that chronicles lessons learned in forming the IBCTs. However, this information is not readily available to the rest of the Army from a central source. By not having this information available for research, the Army may be unaware of previous best practices or repeat mistakes in forming subsequent IBCTs. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-442/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-442.htm GAO-02-442 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-442 Other Written Product GAO-02-442; Military Transformation: Army Actions Needed to Enhance Formation of Future Interim Brigade Combat Teams; Army personnel Defense contingency planning Military operations Military training Strategic mobility forces Strategic planning Warfare Abrams Tank Army Force XXI Program Black Hawk Helicopter Bradley Fighting Vehicle C-130 Aircraft C-17 Aircraft C-5 Aircraft C-5A Aircraft DOD Quadrennial Defense Review Globemaster Aircraft Hercules Aircraft Interim Armored Vehicle M1 Tank Public Law 106-398 Public Law 107-107