Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation

-303- A Historical Analysis of Cadre
The Dick Act attempted to remedy many of Upton’s concerns about the militia by
providing for an adequately trained and equipped force. However, many of Upton’s
concerns were not addressed in the first draft of this law, most noticeably: short-enlistments
and the ability to use the militia outside of the continental United States. In 1908, the Dick
Act was revised to remedy these two issues. The restriction on federal service was changed
from nine months “to cover the period of enlistment” and “the restriction limiting service of
the Militia to the continental United States was removed.” 111 Furthermore, the Act of 1908
required that in order to be classified as a National Guard “all state forces must have the
same organization, armament, and discipline as the Regular Army.” 112
Of all of the problems with the militia raised by cadre proponents, the Dick Act
addressed all but two of them. The remaining issues were the quality of militia officers and
the voluntary nature of the states provision of troops. The Dick Act indirectly addressed
concerns about the quality of militia officers by allowing them to attend Regular Army
schools and required that their units be disciplined to the standard of Regular Army units.
The Dick Act did not address the ability of states to refuse to provide troops. Before the
Dick Act was passed, there was no debate about the relative cost-effectiveness of increasing
the readiness of the reserves versus maintaining a cadre force. Congress decided to
strengthen the National Guard rather than change to a cadre system based more on their
support for the National Guard than on a cost-effectiveness analysis. As discussed earlier,
the militia (National Guard) had significant lobbying power in Congress because they were
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111 Kreidberg and Henry (1955), p. 180. In 1912, the law allowing the use of the militia outside the U.S. was
ruled unconstitutional.
112 Kreidberg and Henry (1955), p. 180