This thesis examines the force structure of the Army's contingency corps in light of the National Military Strategy that is emerging in the early 1990s. The environment that guided this nation's strategic thinking changed significantly in 1989-90. The military strategy that is evolving as a result of this change depends on the ability of our armed forces to project power to a number of regions throughout the world. The Army's contingency corps is a military organization designed to execute rapid deployment in support of a strategy that relies on power projection. After reviewing the strategic background, this thesis applies the CGSC Methodology for Regional Force Planning to identify a feasible solution to determine the combat forces that are assigned to the contingency corps. The force structure issue is complicated by the need to rapidly project enough combat power from the United States to defeat sophisticated threat military forces that are equipped with lethal, modern weapon systems. The study concludes that a mix of combat forces, each with its unique capabilities and limitations, is required. The mix of forces provides for a great deal of flexibility and allows for one force to complement another when properly employed. The proposed contingency corps force structure includes a light infantry division, an airborne division, an air assault division, a motorized regiment, and an armored cavalry regiment.

ADA 242117 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.)