Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation

-27- A Budgetary Analysis of Cadre
Assignment Model (LWAM) described later in this chapter and in more detail in Appendix
B.
1.2.3—Unit of Analysis
The unit of analysis for all of the analyses in this dissertation is the Brigade Combat
Team (BCT). We chose this unit because it is the type of unit for which there is the most
publicly available information and because it is the primary unit of action for Army combat
forces.
1.3—ASSUMPTIONS
Now that we have defined our metrics, we can describe the assumptions needed to
calculate cost and military risk. These assumptions include: the frequency of future wars, the
peacetime cost of each force, the wartime rotation guidance for each force (and the
willingness of the DoD to deviate from this while cadre units mobilize), and the readiness of
each force. Table 1.1 summarizes the assumptions we make in this paper and the following
subsections describe them in more detail. Each of these assumptions is relaxed incrementally
in Chapters Three through Seven of this paper.
Table 1.1—Base Assumptions
Parameter AC RC Cadre Chapter(s)
Frequency of Wars 33 % 3
Peacetime Cost 1.00 0.28 0.20 4
Rotation Guidance (Deviation) 1:2 (1:1) 1:5 (none) 1:2 (none) 5 & 6
Readiness (months to deploy, rate) 0 4 36 10 , 3 BCTs/yr 7
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10 This is the amount of time, from the beginning of a war, that it takes for the first cadre unit to be ready for
deployment. This includes a 12 month deliberation delay, 4 months to recruit, and 20 months to train for
deployment (see readiness discussion that follows).