The Military Effectiveness of the US Armed Forces, 1919–39

2012 ◽  
pp. 70-97
Author(s):  
Ronald Spector
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
Military Effectiveness ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Military

The Soviet Factor in the US-China Military-Technical Cooperation during the Cold War

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-47
Author(s):  
Yinan Li
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cold War ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Active Role ◽  
The United States ◽  
Technical Cooperation ◽  
Arms Sales ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
The Military

The development of the PRC’s armed forces included three phases when their modernization was carried out through an active introduction of foreign weapons and technologies. The first and the last of these phases (from 1949 to 1961, and from 1992 till present) received wide attention in both Chinese and Western academic literature, whereas the second one — from 1978 to 1989 —when the PRC actively purchased weapons and technologies from the Western countries remains somewhat understudied. This paper is intended to partially fill this gap. The author examines the logic of the military-technical cooperation between the PRC and the United States in the context of complex interactions within the United States — the USSR — China strategic triangle in the last years of the Cold War. The first section covers early contacts between the PRC and the United States in the security field — from the visit of R. Nixon to China till the inauguration of R. Reagan. The author shows that during this period Washington clearly subordinated the US-Chinese cooperation to the development of the US-Soviet relations out of fear to damage the fragile process of detente. The second section focuses on the evolution of the R. Reagan administration’s approaches regarding arms sales to China in the context of a new round of the Cold War. The Soviet factor significantly influenced the development of the US-Chinese military-technical cooperation during that period, which for both parties acquired not only practical, but, most importantly, political importance. It was their mutual desire to undermine strategic positions of the USSR that allowed these two countries to overcome successfully tensions over the US arms sales to Taiwan. However, this dependence of the US-China military-technical cooperation on the Soviet factor had its downside. As the third section shows, with the Soviet threat fading away, the main incentives for the military-technical cooperation between the PRC and the United States also disappeared. As a result, after the Tiananmen Square protests, this cooperation completely ceased. Thus, the author concludes that the US arms sales to China from the very beginning were conditioned by the dynamics of the Soviet-American relations and Beijing’s willingness to play an active role in the policy of containment. In that regard, the very fact of the US arms sales to China was more important than its practical effect, i.e. this cooperation was of political nature, rather than military one.

Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-43
Author(s):  
Michael E. O’Hanlon
Keyword(s):  
National Security ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Computational Algorithms ◽  
Military Effectiveness ◽  
Military Organizations ◽  
Security Environment ◽  
The Us ◽  
Basic Facts ◽  
American Grand Strategy

This chapter sketches out the characteristics of today's global security environment in a broad brush by describing the US Department of Defense. It focuses on the science of war, a subdiscipline of defense analysis that, beginning with a foundation of basic facts and figures about military organizations and operations, uses analytical methods to tackle key questions in the national security field. With this context, the chapter illustrates the analytical methods including simple computational algorithms for assessing military effectiveness and predicting combat outcomes. It also includes the study of defense budgets and economics, as well as efforts to understand the physics and technology of military weapons and operations today. The chapter then discusses many of the ABCs of the US armed forces. It explains the evolution of American grand strategy — the theory of the case for how the nation should ensure its safety, prosperity, and survival — that these forces are designed to undergird.

scholarly journals Creation of Armed Forces in NATO Member States: Promising Models of Germany and Norway

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-81
Author(s):  
Andrey Manoilo ◽  
◽  
Elena Ponomareva ◽  
Philipp Trunov ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Potential Growth ◽  
Member States ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Military

Introduction. One of the key tendencies of modern international development is the growing importance of the “factor of power”. In this context, the initiated long process of the potential growth of the armed forces of the countries participating in NATO, which is of particular importance in the growth of new unconventional threats (one of the triggers of the Alliance transformation including through the strengthening of national units has become a global pandemic) is important from scientific and practical points of view. Methods and materials. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research is the theory of building armed forces. The basic sources for the analysis are official documents of military departments, as well as materials from related information centers, which reveal the parameters of the prospective appearance of the armed forces of the countries under study. NATO’s statistical and summit reports also occupy a special place. Analysis. The goal of the article is the research of the armed forces building processes in Germany and Norway for the future until the mid-2030s. These case countries can show the tendencies of military development of NATO European member states in the whole taking into account the differences between Germany and Norway in terms of the geographical location, the population as the main human resource of the armed forces, as well as the transformation of leadership and dynamics of relations between the “historical West” and the Russian Federation, which allows us to characterize the overall trends in the military and political development of European NATO member states. Results. It is proved that the growth of military potential is based on two main groups of reasons. The first is due to the strategic deterioration of relations between the West and Russia since the mid-2010s. The second is that the armed forces of the European member States of NATO have reached the “bottom” position in terms of almost all quantitative parameters. The continuing trend of decreasing numerical indicators (people and technology) threatens to reduce the role of the state on the world stage. Therefore, it is natural to see Germany’s desire to become a “framework nation” in the recruitment of NATO rotation groups in Europe, as well as in the deployment of peacebuilding and peacekeeping missions outside the area of responsibility of the Alliance, which inevitably leads to a large-scale increase in the number of armed forces and the cost of their modernization. In the case of Norway the transformation of the armed forces occurs in the conditions of refusal to increase included human resources and enhance the value of the military presence of NATO partners (primarily the US) first of all in the process of reorganizing the national system of territorial defense. In both cases, there are still tendencies to transform the role of the US in Europe and to consolidate the confrontation with the Russian Federation.

Abortive Venezuela uprising weakens Maduro and Guaido

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Armed Forces ◽  
Security Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Contact Group ◽  
International Contact ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Military

Significance The military high command continues to back Maduro, contradicting Guaido’s claim that senior officials agreed to support his interim presidency. The failed uprising reveals major intelligence, strategic and communications failures within Guaido’s circle and the US government's ‘Venezuela transition’ team. Impacts Purges in the armed forces and security sector can be expected. Both the Lima Group and International Contact Group will convene emergency meetings to consider options for a peaceful solution. The leadership of both Guaido and Maduro will come under pressure from within their own blocks.

Will Biden could withdraw the US forces from Afghanistan?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislav Mikhailovich Ivanov
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
The United States ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
Peace Agreement ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Military

The article analyzes the military operation of the United States and its NATO allies in Afghanistan, which lasted for 20 years, and the prospects for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from this country. The author states that the new US President D. Biden does not abandon the foreign policy course pursued by his predecessors earlier to reduce the US military presence in Afghanistan. Moreover, the new president reaffirmed his commitment to the peace agreement between the United States and the opposition Taliban, reached in the Qatari capital of Doha in February 2020, which provides for the withdrawal of US troops and their NATO allies from the country. However, the author comes to the conclusion that due to a number of objective and subjective factors, the timing of the final withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan may be postponed indefinitely, and even the deadline recently declared by the White House on September 11, 2021, may be far from final and may be repeatedly subjected to revisions. The main obstacle to the implementation of this important clause of the bilateral agreement is the lack of progress in negotiations between the Taliban representatives and the central government, as well as the lack of security guarantees for the withdrawn contingent of the US Armed Forces, NATO and the remaining staff of Western foreign missions in Afghanistan. Not only the radical Taliban wing, but also a number of current ministers in Kabul are trying to sabotage the conclusion of a second peace agreement and the subsequent integration of the Taliban into power. Without a lasting agreement between the Taliban and the central authorities in Kabul and the formation of a new coalition government, the likelihood of a resumption of civil war in the country will remain. New terrorist attacks and outbursts of violence on the part of the radical wing of the Taliban movement against the central government and foreign troops are not excluded. The penetration of Islamic State gangs into Afghanistan, which can undermine the stability of the military-political situation from within and provoke new armed conflicts, also carries certain risks. Much will also depend on the position of one of the main external players in Afghan affairs — Islamabad. Time will show whether Pakistan will be ready to take on part of the functions of a peaceful settlement within the Afghan conflict. The US administration would like more participation in stabilizing the further situation in Afghanistan from other regional forces (China, Russia, India, Iran, Turkey, Uzbekistan).

scholarly journals Vietnam War - The New Aspect of Warfare

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-149
Author(s):  
Juraj Šimko
Keyword(s):  
Vietnam War ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Fourth Generation ◽  
Us Army ◽  
Modern Times ◽  
South Vietnam ◽  
The Us ◽  
Military Development ◽  
The Military ◽  
First Time

Abstract The article focuses on the basic characteristic of military development in the second half of the 20th century. On pursuance of William Lind´s concept or theory of Four Generations of War, the article describes the culmination of the Third Generation of War, based on manoeuver and mobility, coupled with air superiority. The first part deals with issues of US technical dominance in the military, the development of new ways of fighting, especially the airmobile tactics used in South Vietnam. The second part of the article focuses on the specific conditions of the Vietnam War that the US Army, for the first time, had to face while applying elements of the Fourth Generation of War. The final part focuses on the issues of implementing the theory of Four Generations of War into the Armed Forces Academy education to better understand the development of military in modern times.

Introduction to Armed Forces & Society

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda L. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Vietnam War ◽  
South African ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
The United States ◽  
National Defense ◽  
Women In The Military ◽  
Us Military ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Military

This Armed Forces & Society issue is on women in the contemporary armed forces in the United States and other nations to include the South African National Defense Force and the Australian Defense Force. This issue contains a collection of nine papers, each reviewing a current aspect of women serving in the military since the post–Vietnam War Era. There are also two review essays of Megan Mackenzie’s book, Beyond the Band of Brothers: The US Military and the Myth That Women Can’t Fight. An overview of changing laws and the expanding role of women in the military is provided in this introduction, as well as summaries of the nine articles, and comments on the two book reviews mentioned above.

scholarly journals Features of prevention of suicidal behavior of the persons performing the professional activity in the extreme environment (on the example of the American Armed forces)

2019 ◽  
pp. 151-158
Author(s):  
Peter Kobetc ◽  
Igor' Il'in
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Extreme Environment ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Professional Activity ◽  
Positive Experience ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Military

The relevance of this work is due to the fact that at present the problem of suicide among persons engaged in their professional activities in an extreme environment, which include the military and law enforcement officials, is of great concern to the public and the leadership, the Armed forces and law enforcement agencies in different countries. Most of the previous studies have shown that suicide among the considered category of persons adversely affects the combat readiness of the unit and may even lead to a negative attitude in General to the service in the army or law enforcement. In this regard, the authors attempted to analyze the positive experience associated with the prevention of suicidal behavior in the US Armed forces. In the course of the research General scientific and special methods were applied, which allowed to draw reasoned conclusions. Studying the positive experience of suicide prevention in American servicemen, the authors came to the conclusion that the military and political leadership of the us Armed forces not only realized the importance of countering suicidal behavior, but also takes the necessary measures to minimize the phenomenon under consideration. The authors also note that currently in the Armed forces and law enforcement agencies should focus on the need for commanders and direct managers of mental health of soldiers and personnel, including to mitigate the effects of combat stress. The practical significance of the study is expressed in the possibility of using in our country the positive foreign experience in the prevention of mental disorders and suicidal behavior among specialists of dangerous professions. Due to the urgent need to reduce the psychotraumatic impact of negative factors on the group under consideration.

scholarly journals First psychiatric hospitalizations in the US military: the National Collaborative Study of Early Psychosis and Suicide (NCSEPS)

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1405-1415 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICHARD HERRELL ◽  
IOLINE D. HENTER ◽  
RAMIN MOJTABAI ◽  
JOHN J. BARTKO ◽  
DIANE VENABLE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Collaborative Study ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Active Duty ◽  
Early Psychosis ◽  
The Us ◽  
Active Duty Personnel ◽  
The Military

Background. Military samples provide an excellent context to systematically ascertain hospitalization for severe psychiatric disorders. The National Collaborative Study of Early Psychosis and Suicide (NCSEPS), a collaborative study of psychiatric disorders in the US Armed Forces, estimated rates of first hospitalization in the military for three psychiatric disorders: bipolar disorder (BD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia.Method. First hospitalizations for BD, MDD and schizophrenia were ascertained from military records for active duty personnel between 1992 and 1996. Rates were estimated as dynamic incidence (using all military personnel on active duty at the midpoint of each year as the denominator) and cohort incidence (using all military personnel aged 18–25 entering active duty between 1992 and 1996 to estimate person-years at risk).Results. For all three disorders, 8723 hospitalizations were observed in 8120136 person-years for a rate of 10·7/10000 [95% confidence interval (CI) 10·5–11·0]. The rate for BD was 2·0 (95% CI 1·9–2·1), for MDD, 7·2 (95% CI 7·0–7·3), and for schizophrenia, 1·6 (95% CI 1·5–1·7). Rates for BD and MDD were greater in females than in males [for BD, rate ratio (RR) 2·0, 95% CI 1·7–2·2; for MDD, RR 2·9, 95% CI 2·7–3·1], but no sex difference was found for schizophrenia. Blacks had lower rates than whites of BD (RR 0·8, 95% CI 0·7–0·9) and MDD (RR 0·8, 95% CI 0·8–0·9), but a higher rate of schizophrenia (RR 1·5, 95% CI 1·3–1·7).Conclusions. This study underscores the human and financial burden that psychiatric disorders place on the US Armed Forces.

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