Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation
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Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation

Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation

rand.org
07.06.2014 Views

-194- An Operational Analysis of Cadre This option would be required for cadre organizations that do not provide enough time for the cadre leaders to maintain their own equipment. This is true for foreign army training units that would be deployed periodically during peacetime as well as for all cadre organizations that do not maintain separate cadre units in peacetime. 89 In these cases, contractors would have to be paid to maintain the equipment during peacetime. This will add to the cost of a cadre unit in peacetime. 90 However, this also reduces the direct cost of a cadre unit since the cadre leaders are free to perform non-cadre duties. The decision between cadre and contractor maintained equipment must be based on a thorough costeffectiveness analysis. Three key questions are: • Is the cost of contractor maintenance lower than the cost of the cadre when they are assigned to equipment maintenance? • Is the quality of the maintenance the same for contractor and cadre maintained equipment? • How does performing maintenance affect the morale of the cadre? There have been a number of studies concerning the outsourcing of defense services 91 but none have addressed the specific issue of unit equipment maintenance. This analysis is beyond the scope of this dissertation but is necessary in order to determine which alternative would minimize the cost of a cadre unit. ____________ 89 For the purposes of this discussion, this includes the rotating cadre units since most of their personnel either are in the IRR or assigned to other duties while units are in Standby (cadre) status. However, Tillson et al discuss the possibility of keeping some personnel assigned full-time to the unit for equipment maintenance while in Standby status. 90 CBO (2004) estimates the cost of maintaining equipment for one BCT at a forward operating base in Eastern Europe to be $50 million per year. This is two orders of magnitude less than the cost savings from cadre forces. 91 CBO (1995), Camm (1996), Ford (1998)

-195- An Operational Analysis of Cadre While this option would reduce the operation and maintenance cost of equipment because the equipment is never used, it will lead to additional costs for preparation, storage, and mobilization. 92 This alternative would also increase the amount of time needed to prepare equipment for deployment relative to the other alternatives since equipment would have to be removed from storage, tested, and repaired. 4.1.3—Costs and Risks Assigning full equipment sets to cadre units has been the traditional method proposed to equip cadre units in peacetime. We have discussed two ways of doing this. Contractor maintained equipment in humidity controlled storage would have the higher operations and maintenance costs. However, this cost would be offset by the increased capability provided by the cadre in peacetime if they do not have to be concerned with equipment maintenance. Humidity controlled storage would require a longer lead-time to get equipment ready to deploy. But, there would be at least two years after activation for equipment to be prepared. 4.2—ROTATIONAL EQUIPMENT SETS An alternative to providing each cadre unit with a full equipment set during peacetime is to take advantage of the nature of rotation to minimize the amount of equipment assigned to each unit. Fighting a war with rotation requires only that there be a full equipment set in theater for each unit deployed and enough equipment at home for units to train on. 93 In a rotational force, each unit does not need a full equipment set all the time. ____________ 92 For instance, repairs needed upon removal from storage. 93 There would also be equipment waiting at repair depots that would need to be taken into account.

-195- An Operational Analysis of <strong>Cadre</strong><br />

While this option would reduce the operation and maintenance cost of equipment<br />

because the equipment is never used, it will lead to additional costs for preparation, storage,<br />

and mobilization. 92 This alternative would also increase the amount of time needed to<br />

prepare equipment for deployment relative to the other alternatives since equipment would<br />

have to be removed from storage, tested, and repaired.<br />

4.1.3—Costs and Risks<br />

Assigning full equipment sets to cadre units has been the traditional method<br />

proposed to equip cadre units in peacetime. We have discussed two ways of doing this.<br />

Contractor maintained equipment in humidity controlled storage would have the higher<br />

operations and maintenance costs. However, this cost would be offset by the increased<br />

capability provided by the cadre in peacetime if they do not have to be concerned with<br />

equipment maintenance. Humidity controlled storage would require a longer lead-time to get<br />

equipment ready to deploy. But, there would be at least two years after activation for<br />

equipment to be prepared.<br />

4.2—ROTATIONAL EQUIPMENT SETS<br />

An alternative to providing each cadre unit with a full equipment set during<br />

peacetime is to take advantage of the nature of rotation to minimize the amount of<br />

equipment assigned to each unit. Fighting a war with rotation requires only that there be a<br />

full equipment set in theater for each unit deployed and enough equipment at home for units<br />

to train on. 93 In a rotational force, each unit does not need a full equipment set all the time.<br />

____________<br />

92 For instance, repairs needed upon removal from storage.<br />

93 There would also be equipment waiting at repair depots that would need to be taken into account.

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