Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation

-201- An Operational Analysis of Cadre
deploy. This is much more of an issue for heavy forces than for light forces. However, these
units would get the additional benefit of receiving the newest equipment. This has the
additional drawback that cadre leaders may not be familiar with the equipment.
4.4—COMPARING CADRE EQUIPPING STRATEGIES
This chapter has discussed three options for equipping cadre units during peacetime.
Each of these has relative advantages and disadvantages. These are notionally summarized in
the stoplight chart shown in Figure 4.2.
Figure 4.2—Comparing Cadre Equipping Strategies
Full Equipment Sets
Rotational Equipment Sets
Reliance on Industiral Base
Cost Risk Readiness Familiarity
Of the alternatives examined in this chapter, assigning full equipment sets is the most
expensive. The lower cost of the other two options comes with an increase in risk and
reduction in readiness and familiarity. It is most risky to depend on the industrial base to
produce equipment because even in a rotational war, it is possible that the equipment will
not be available. There is also some risk associated with rotational equipment sets because
they do not provide a force capable of fighting larger wars without rotation. Reliance on the
industrial base also reduces readiness because it takes time to ramp up production. Any
delays in production could decrease the readiness of cadre units. Lastly, personnel in cadre
units relying on rotational equipment sets may not be familiar with the equipment they are
expected to use in theater because they trained on something different. This is also a concern
of relying on the industrial base.