This monograph attempted to determine if the U.S. Army's Corps Packaging concept could help improve the readiness of Army National Guard division staff officers. The author conducted an historical analysis of National Guard division mobilizations from 1916 to present. The author used a number of primary sources, e.g. The George C. Marshall Papers, after action reports from the mobilization of National Guard divisions for the Berlin Crisis, 1961, and obsolete War Department and Army Regulations. The findings of the historical analysis demonstrated that the readiness of National Guard division staff officers has exponentially increased since 1916. However, the operational experience of these officers remains a serious weakness. The study then examined past Army affiliation programs for insight into how these past programs were developed and whether they might have relevance to "Corps Packaging". The author discovered that many of these programs worked well in the past and some could be used as a model for developing the concept of "Corps Packaging." The author explored the training and education of National Guard officers and concluded that "Corps Packaging" could influence National Guard division staff officer readiness, if for example corps acted as HICON for ARNG division warfighter exercises. However, the potential effect of "Corps Packaging" on education was negligible. The study concluded that "Corps Packaging" could best improve the readiness of National Guard division staff officer by offering opportunities for operational experience with associated corps and teamed divisions.

ADA 419696 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.)