October 09, 2014

Learning from the Air Force: Why the Army Needs a Congressional Commission

By: Nora Bensahel, David W. Barno and USA (Ret.)

Over recent months, tensions between the active U.S. Army and the U.S. Army National Guard have escalated dramatically. Instead of working as a team to manage the deep cuts to Army force structure and end strength, the two sides have withdrawn to their corners, donned their boxing gloves, and sparred bloodily about topics ranging from restructuring aviation assets to the degree of interchangeability between active and reserve forces. These battles are so contentious, and mutual distrust so high, that Congress is debating the creation of an independent commission to examine the future roles of active and reserve components of the Army. Although Washington commissions rarely solve tough problems, in this case a commission is essential to establish ground truth and serve as a catalyst to help restore trust among the Army’s components.

Read the full op-ed on War on the Rocks.

More from CNAS

  • Podcast
    • May 7, 2021
    U.S And 25 Other Nations To Participate In Huge Joint Training Exercise

    Last year the pandemic derailed large-scale war gaming – this year it's back with a vengeance. The U.S. military is taking part in a massive joint training exercise across Eur...

    By Becca Wasser & Jay Price

  • Commentary
    • Defense One
    • September 9, 2019
    Two Cheers for Esper’s Plan to Reassert Civilian Control of the Pentagon

    The longest-ever gap in civilian leadership atop the Department of Defense came to an end on July 23, when Mark Esper was sworn in as secretary of defense. His presence in the...

    By Loren DeJonge Schulman, Alice Hunt Friend & Mara Karlin

    • Commentary
    • War on the Rocks
    • June 15, 2016
    Au Revoir QDR

    Whatever version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) emerges from the House-Senate conference process later this year, it seems likely that the 20-year old Quadre...

    By Loren DeJonge Schulman & Shawn Brimley

    • Commentary
    • May 12, 2016
    The DIUx Is Dead. Long Live The DIUx.

    Defense Secretary Ash Carter launched his high-profile Silicon Valley outpost a year ago to great fanfare and high expectations. Less than a year later, he has completely over...

    By Ben FitzGerald & Loren DeJonge Schulman

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia