This monograph discusses the adequacy of emerging concepts for the doctrine, organization, and materiel of light armor forces in the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army is currently developing new light armor organizations and procuring a modern light armor vehicle, due to deficiencies with existing light armor forces and the increased importance of contingency operations. In addition, emerging doctrine for these organizations addresses their employment on future contingency operation battlefields. This monograph evaluates the adequacy of emerging U.S. Army concepts for light armor forces in contingency operations against doctrinal considerations for contingency operations and the experiences of other armed forces. This monograph first presents doctrinal considerations for U.S. Army contingency forces, based on the current and future version of the Army's keystone doctrinal manual, FM 100-5, Operations. Next, current and emerging concepts for the use of light armor forces by the U.S. Army are reviewed, followed by discussion of the light armor forces and operational experiences of two major Western users of light armor vehicles, South Africa and France. Analysis reveals that while the emerging doctrine, organization, and materiel for U.S. Army light armor forces generally satisfies keystone doctrinal considerations, the valuable experiences of other nations with light armor forces have not been applied. This monograph concludes that emerging U.S. Army concepts for light armor forces in contingency operations should result in the more deployable armor organizations demanded by contingency operations requirements. Documented flaws in the doctrine, organization, and materiel of these forces, while important, should not be permitted to delay creation of these required forces. Finally, this monograph notes that despite flaws in emerging concepts for U.S. Army light armor forces, the number of light armor units is so small that improvement should be an evolutionary process, as occurred with French and South African light armor forces.

ADA 262562 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.)