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

-276- A Historical Analysis of Cadre

-277- A Historical Analysis of Cadre 2. CADRE VERSUS MILITIA Cadre units were first proposed in the United States due to a perceived lack of readiness of the militia. In the nineteenth century, the militia was the primary war fighting force of the United States. 10 Based on the country’s negative experiences with the militia during this time, two prominent military professionals, John C. Calhoun and Emory Upton, proposed that the militia be replaced with a cadre force. 11 These individuals believed that it was more cost-effective to pay some full-time officers who could hone their skills during peacetime rather than pay for a part-time militia, which would have only limited training opportunities. This contradicted the beliefs of many early U.S. leaders who were suspicious of a professional military and thought it was better to rely on the militia because this would reduce the chance of the army becoming “an instrument of despotism” as they experienced in England. 12 Despite this support, early wartime experiences with the militia led many to question its readiness. ____________ 10 The Regular Army (equivalent to today’s AC) was technically the nation’s primary fighting force but was too small to meet the demands of anything but small skirmishes with Indians. For wars, the militia was the primary source of manpower. 11 In the nineteenth century, a cadre unit was defined as a unit that was assigned only officers during peacetime. Theses officers would be retained on active duty (full-time). Nineteenth century army units had very few noncommissioned officers (NCOs) so there was little discussion of cadre units retaining any enlisted personnel during peacetime. A militia unit was defined as a unit that was assigned a full complement of officers and enlisted personnel in peacetime. Both the officers and enlisted personnel in a militia unit were retained in drilling status (part-time) during peacetime. 12 Stewart (2005a), p. 108. In 1784, the Continental Congress emphasized this point: “standing armies in time of peace are inconsistent with the principles of republican governments, dangerous to the liberties of a free people, and generally converted into destructive engines for establishing despotism.” [Kreidberg and Henry (1955), p. 3]. This distrust of standing armies was not unique to the United States, it existed in England as far back as 1620. [Shwoerer (1974)]

-276- A Historical Analysis of <strong>Cadre</strong>

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