Rotational Deployments vs. Forward Stationing: How Can the Army Achieve Assurance and Deterrence Efficiently and Effectively?: How Can the Army Achieve Assurance and Deterrence Efficiently and Effectively?

The Army’s force posture is out of balance, with a greater percentage of troops stationed in the United States than at any time since the late 1940s. This has forced an over-reliance on lengthy, continuous rotational deployments to achieve deterrence and assurance in theaters such as northeast Asia and Europe. This finding is based on a 9-month study assessing the costs and benefits of rotational deployments and forward stationing. The analysis reveals that, in terms of fiscal cost, training readiness, morale and family readiness, and diplomatic factors, the United States could likely achieve deterrence and assurance objectives more efficiently and more effectively with increased forward stationing. The recommendations address what kinds of units would be best suited for forward stationing, where forward stationing would be most efficacious, and how the Department of Defense should go about rebalancing Army force posture.

Audience: U.S. military leadership, strategic planners, military historians, and policy advocates may be most interested in this work as it analyzes force stationing compared to rotational military deployments to foreign lands (which involves training and equipment readiness in preparation for combat deployment). Additionally, students pursuing coursework in military science, defense/military policy, public administration, strategy, and program management may be interested in this text relating to United States military decision-making and strategic planning.

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