Cancellation of the Armored Gun System (AGS) and the deactivation of the 3-73rd Armor Battalion has left the US. Army force structure without air droppable light armor to support contingency operations. Because of this, the contingency force commander and planner must address the question of "What do we do now?" This monograph examines this question and attempts to fill the void left by light armor with technology and the efforts of a joint/combined arms team. In understanding the extent of the void left by light armor this monograph addresses light infantry and light armor to analyze what, specifically, each brings to a contingency operation (strengths and limitations). Operation Just Cause and lessons learned from Combat Training Centers (CTCs) are examined to review how light armor has been used effectively, and to identify current trends in the employment of light infantry and armor as a combined arms team. The U.S. Army expects to fill the immediate void left by light armor through the fielding of the Javelin anti-armor weapon system, employment of the AH-64 Apache, and with the strategic airlift of the Immediate Ready Company (IRC) from the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized). Future contingency operations will be supported with theRAH-66 Comanche attack helicopter, the Enhanced Fiber Optic Guided Missile (EFOGM), and possibly the Line of Sight Anti-Tank (LOSAT) weapon systems. Additionally examined in this monograph is the use of USMC LAV-25s to augment a US Army contingency force. This monograph concludes that the U.S. Army's cancellation of the AGS and the deactivation of the 3-73rd Armor Battalion has not reduced our ability to conduct contingency operations. Employment of our technological advantage in anti-armor weapons, attack aviation, and strategic airlift can set the conditions for the use of light forces in any contingency scenario. If light armor is required for forced/early entry operations, the USMC LAV-25 is appropriate for the mission. It is air droppable, provides ample firepower and protection, and proved to work effectively with US. Army light infantry forces during Operation Just Cause. The challenge to the commander is our ability to operate as a heavy/light combined arms team and to understand and employ our technological advantage.

ADA 340099 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.)