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GAO examined the key defense policy choices underlying the Department of Defense's (DOD) proposed Base Force structure for the post-Cold War era. GAO found that: (1) while the threat from the Soviet Union had diminished, DOD believed that the proposed Base Force staffing should remain at current levels, since DOD had already considered changes in the international security environment; (2) DOD based force structure decisions upon five assumptions including national interests, potential threats, contingency requirements, military doctrine, and risk levels; (3) DOD based the proposed Base Force levels upon the capability to defend against regional threats, to respond to multiple contingencies and wars in which armor was emphasized, and to minimize potential military reversals; and (4) the Base Force was dynamic and could be reshaped to meet minimum U.S. defense needs.