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Avoiding another hollow force : optimizing the joint force despite sequestration

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In today's austere fiscal environment, the Department of Defense (DoD) must implement a long-range strategy, reform its acquisition system, reallocate resources to preserve current force structure and fund modernization programs, while retaining the flexibility to adapt to unpredictable threats. This strategy must be accomplished in the context of the nation's current debt crisis. This paper's thesis: reforming the acquisition system and the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution (PPBE) system will allow the DoD to eliminate wasteful spending, optimize the joint force, and avoid another "hollow force." This paper reviews the impacts of the Budget Control Act, sequestration, and the DoD's acquisition system and PPBE paradigms to determine how the U.S. Armed Forces can be more efficient and effective, in the face of significant defense cuts. The post-Vietnam era and the 1990s were classic "hollow force" periods. After Vietnam, socio-economic factors and funding decisions that favored the development of advanced weapon systems rather than funding other vital requirements such as manpower led to the hollow force. In the 1990s, a hollow force was created by "over-committing" the U.S. military relative to its size and resources. This was exacerbated by recruiting and retention problems and emphasis on readiness-related funding versus modernization. While the United States remains the world's most powerful military, near-peer competitors such as China are closing the gap. Based on slow economic growth, large federal deficits and debt, and soaring acquisition costs, U.S. leaders face many challenges in balancing the economy with national security risks through its defense budget. The DoD must reform its acquisition and PPBE systems to a cost-effective approach that eliminates waste, preserves critical combat capability, and avoids hollowing out the force.

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Summary Note

In today's austere fiscal environment, the Department of Defense (DoD) must implement a long-range strategy, reform its acquisition system, reallocate resources to preserve current force structure and fund modernization programs, while retaining the flexibility to adapt to unpredictable threats. This strategy must be accomplished in the context of the nation's current debt crisis. This paper's thesis: reforming the acquisition system and the planning, programming, budgeting, and execution (PPBE) system will allow the DoD to eliminate wasteful spending, optimize the joint force, and avoid another "hollow force." This paper reviews the impacts of the Budget Control Act, sequestration, and the DoD's acquisition system and PPBE paradigms to determine how the U.S. Armed Forces can be more efficient and effective, in the face of significant defense cuts.  The post-Vietnam era and the 1990s were classic "hollow force" periods. After Vietnam, socio-economic factors and funding decisions that favored the development of advanced weapon systems rather than funding other vital requirements such as manpower led to the hollow force. In the 1990s, a hollow force was created by "over-committing" the U.S. military relative to its size and resources. This was exacerbated by recruiting and retention problems and emphasis on readiness-related funding versus modernization.  While the United States remains the world's most powerful military, near-peer competitors such as China are closing the gap. Based on slow economic growth, large federal deficits and debt, and soaring acquisition costs, U.S. leaders face many challenges in balancing the economy with national security risks through its defense budget. The DoD must reform its acquisition and PPBE systems to a cost-effective approach that eliminates waste, preserves critical combat capability, and avoids hollowing out the force.

General Note

"29 April 2013"--Thesis approval page.

Content Note

Introduction. Defining the problem -- Background -- Current fiscal environment -- Strategic environment / Budget Control Act of 2011 / The impact of sequestration / The hollow force / Lessons from major defense drawdowns. Post-Korean War drawdown -- Post-Vietnam War drawdown -- Outlook for the future / DoD acquisition and management system. Quadrennial Defense Review / Alternatives for national defense savings / Recommendations / Conclusion.