Slide 7 of 20
Notes:
The spectrum of operations runs from Stability and Support Operations (SASO) at the bottom thru Small Scale Contingencies up to Major Theater War (MTW). We have trained and ready forces to fight MTWs. They are in the Train-Alert-Deploy posture and if they go it will almost always be to protect vital US interests.
What we find in SSC operations is that because we do not have forces optimized for these scenarios we usually have to put an ad hoc force together under time constraints. Additionally, because these scenarios are usually “for less than vital interests” commanders are inclined to Alert-Train-Deploy because force protection considerations are magnified. Our requirement therefore is to be more strategically responsive and capable in meeting the CINC’s needs without compromising our MTW capability.
Today, no one does this better than the US Army, but it still takes too long to meet our SSC requirements.
