Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation

-220- An Operational Analysis of Cadre
Overall, we have seen that the existing individual training system has excess capacity,
but that this capacity is only available during off-peak times. 148 If the additional recruits
called for by a cadre augmented force can be trained in these off peak times, then the Army
will have no problem training personnel to fill out cadre units during wartime. 149 However, if
new recruits can only be added on traditional recruiting schedules, the Army will have a
more difficult time training new recruits in wartime. In this case, the Army might consider
adding additional training capability during wartime.
Expanding Training Capacity in Wartime
If the Army cannot train recruits for cadre units in off-peak times during wartime,
then we might consider temporarily expanding the capacity of the individual training system
in wartime. This is exactly what is being done as of late 2007 to train additional recruits as
part of the six BCT expansion. The FY 2008 supplemental budget request states that “the
existing Army training sites cannot handle the workload within their current infrastructure,”
and requests additional funding “due to an increased need for temporary facilities to
sufficiently train new Soldiers to standard as the Army continues to execute a needed overstrength
of Soldiers in response to the Global War on Terrorism.” 150 Temporary increases
such as this might also be needed to train extra personnel for cadre units during wartime.
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148 A full study would also examine the capacity constraints in the Advanced Individual Training (AIT) system
as well. However, due to a lack of capacity data, we were unable to pursue this analysis further. Our
conclusions are based on the assumption that excess capacity in the AIT system is similar to that in the BCT
system.
149 Donnelly and Kagan (2008b) argue that the existing training base is too small for an expansion: “Army
leaders have often indicated that the lessened ‘throughput’ capacity of their training pipeline is an equally
constraining factor for expansion.” [Donnelly and Kagan (2008b), p. 111] However, Donnelly and Kagan
assume an expansion rate of 30,000 per year, four times larger than that assumed in the first paper of this
dissertation.
150 Department of the Army (2007b), p. 10. More specifically, these funds were for “relocatable facilities
support, base support, the Basic Officer Leadership Course, and the Warrior Training Course.”