The bifurcation of global threats since the collapse of the bipolar paradigm, as well as technological proliferation has heightened uncertainty in US Army operations. This uncertainty has manifested in adversaries with broader capabilities to directly impact US dominance, lessening the advantages inherent in technology centric solutions. In 1999, the CSA proposed an ' Objective Force that would alter the patterns of organizational action through technological dominance. This monograph examines these patterns of alteration against the experiences of a deployed Legacy Force unit and suggests that the capabilities embedded in them do not require the creation of a new force. These pattern alterations exist in part in current forces and these forces are capable of rapidly adapting. This examination begins with an analysis of the origins that led the CSA toward the Objective Force. Based on the perceptions of senior leaders, the need and direction for change was clear. While the Objective Force concept has not been tested, the framework articulated by TRADOC is sufficient to analyze its theoretical and conceptual foundations. Viewed through complexity and systems theory, the monograph threads the ideas of the Objective Force through the prism of the complex adaptive system and identifies the patterns of alteration that seek to counter the perceived methodism of the Legacy Force. This analysis provides evaluation criteria to compare the proposed capabilities of the Objective force with those of a Legacy Force unit. This monograph concludes that the US Army does need to change but the course does not have to be the Objective Force. It recommends the creation of organic modular combined arms units at brigade and below composed of light/medium and heavylmedium forces to enhance capabilities, as well as staff reorganizations to mitigate the ad hoc nature of current staff processes. Coupled with these recommendations is a change in manning process to enhance cohesion and leader continuity and development, and informational enablers that focus on content to enhance commander visualization.

ADA 419832 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)