Author Description

Former Chief of Staff of the Army General Eric Shinseki stated in his 1999 vision that his goal was a "comprehensive transformation of the Army" into a force that is "strategically responsive and dominant at every point on the spectrum of operations".2 Through this "transformation" the Army would move away from a "bifurcated force".3 This "bifurcated force" consisted of two types of division organizations. First were the heavy divisions which were superb at high intensity combat but were encumbered by limited strategic mobility. Second were the light divisions which lacked lethality and survivability while retaining significant strategic mobility and agility.4 Ever since, the Army has endeavored to transform itself from a Cold War focused division-based force, into an army centered on highly deployable and self-sufficient combined arms Brigade Combat Teams (BCT).