Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation

-230- An Operational Analysis of Cadre
year are of twice the size of those required to increase the force by six BCTs over four years
as of 2007. We found that the IRR could fill out the entire +6 Cadre force over the shortterm
but that recruiting increases would be needed to replace IRR personnel who separate in
later years. We also considered offering bonuses to RC personnel to serve in cadre units.
Some combination of increased recruiting, IRR activation, and RC bonuses could provide
the junior personnel needed to fill out cadre units. However, both IRR activation and RC
bonuses would require significant changes to personnel policies. Additionally, the cost of
bonuses and of retaining junior personnel in the RC could reduce the cost savings from a
cadre augmented force by as much as 62 percent. The ability to fill out cadre units is the
major risk of relying upon a cadre augmented force.
6.2—ASSESSMENT
This paper shows that a cadre augmented force could work in practice. However,
some of the results in this paper raise concerns. We found that the cost of cadre leaders in
peacetime could be as high as 56 percent of an AC unit. 161 This motivated us to consider
other organizations. We considered the possibilities of both dual-hatting cadre leaders and
retaining them in reserve status. In our view, retaining cadre leaders in reserve organizations
is the most attractive alternative. As long as they are prior service personnel, there is
sufficient time for cadre leaders retained in reserve status to hone their skills before their unit
would be deployed. These units can cost as little as two percent of an AC unit.
____________
161 When a cadre unit cost 56 percent of an AC unit, the average long-run annual cost savings from the +6, +9,
and +18 BCT cadre forces are still $2, $3, and $7 billion respectively and the cost savings from the CadreMix
force is $6 billion.