Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation

-82- A Budgetary Analysis of Cadre
7.3 shows how the average long-run cost savings from a cadre augmented force vary with
cadre mobilization delay. 93
Figure 7.3—Sensitivity of Average Long-Run Cadre Cost Savings from CadreMix
Force to Cadre Mobilization Delay
$15
CadreMix Cost Savings (Billions)
$10
$5
$0
-$5
Cadre (Strict)
Cadre (20+)
Cadre (16+)
Cadre (12+)
-$10
12 24 36 48 60
Cadre Mobilization Delay (Months)
The cost savings from a cadre augmented force decrease as the cadre mobilization
delay increases. When AC units are allowed to deploy with as little as 12 months at home, a
cadre augmented force always reduces costs even if the first cadre unit is not mobilized until
60 months after the beginning of the war. However, the average long-run cost savings
decrease from $11 billion (36 month delay) to about $1 billion (60 month delay). When cadre
units can only deploy with 16 and 20 months at home, a cadre augmented force begins to
increase costs when the mobilization delay is longer than 24 months. When AC units must
strictly adhere to rotation guidance, a cadre augmented force only reduces costs if the
mobilization delay is 12 months or less.
Assumptions about mobilization delay have a significant impact on the attractiveness
of a cadre augmented force. Assuming that the DoD is willing to allow AC units to deploy
____________
93 Peacetime cost savings follow the same trend but are slightly larger at all points.