By: Shivangee Bhattacharya, Research Analyst, GSDN
After World War II, the United States saw the reorganization of its military forces which influenced its formation, tactics and preparedness in the face of emerging threats. The post war period therefore provided for the need to review the conduct of war especially in the Cold War period when there was need to fight the Warsaw Pact’s Soviet Union.
Quite prominently, in a bid to centralise the military management and promote co-ordination, the Department of Defence (DoD) was created in 1947. A reform was enacted that provided for improved resource management and to put into planning and direction a more co-ordinated military strategy of all branches of the military. Moreover, with the change in conflict dynamics from traditional warfare, to unconventional warfare and counter insurgency during the Cold War, fighter training programs underwent changes to meet requirements for versatile combat contexts.
However, technological development called for additional changes in the process. The application of nuclear weapons affected not only the military missions and operations, but also the strategic viewpoints, which led to such ideas as deterrence, and mutually assured destruction (MAD). These shifts demanded a radical reassessment of operational concepts which asserted more prominent focus on maneuverer and quickness of response.
In the last two decades the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan has been the prescriptions for continued change within American military strategy and policy. It has relocated to the direction of hybrid warfare which makes use of both conventional forces, cyber forces, and intelligence – all of which show a constant effort to reforming the military due to new challenges.
Such historical changes show why military reforms after the Second World War continued to be necessary not only to protect the US but also to restore world peace amidst emerging new world orders. Top management should buy these changes because they are crucial in making the armed force intercept new threats and continue fulfilling their role of safeguarding American interests globally.
Second, Defence Information System for Security (DISS) took shape after post-War Demobilization during the adoption of The National Security Act of 1947.
As the war came to its close in Europe and the Pacific, the script supplied to members of the United States military was a complicated plan for returning to civilian life. Tens of millions of men came back to civilian society; the military services subsequently demobilized to a large extent. However, the development of the cold war requirement a more integrated and more regular military force. The National Security Act of 1947 was another important year in US military groundbreaking where fundamental reforms were passed under the act which include The Department of Defence (DoD), The National Security Council (NSC), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as well as the formation of the US Air Force as a seperate branch of the military. It was a sign of a coordinated defence strategy and joined up approach to the security of the country. It has been said that the act has more importance in terms of mapping the contemporary warfare strategy. The idea of centralizing Army, Navy and Air Force under the DoD was helpful to the United States because it arranged its military resources. Other critics said that interservice animosities remained present, at times frustrating cooperation.
The forum of the Cold War however saw extensive reform along the military to ensure organised defense against the Soviet threat. Contention policy influenced military policies and contributed to the proliferation of nuclear capabilities and the start of the alliances such as NATO. Subsequent to the World War II, Korea War (1950-1953) and Vietnam War (1955-1975) again presented such imperative requirements for logistic reforms in integrated command structures and mobility of troops.
Otherwise, one major reform during this period was the adoption of the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986. This legislation intended to target such problems which hindered coordinated efforts of U.S. Militaries most notably in Vietnam. The act raised the status of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and improved the structure of command, thus increasing efficiency of joint operations. It also stressed the integration of the services in terms of training and planning.
Appeal to the technological development was also significant for the change in the military. The emergence of ICBM, stealth and effective reconnaissance system highlighted the significance of achieving superiority in technology. Nevertheless, the critics of this period enlarge on volume of exterminate arms which frequently concealed regular forces capability.
The war at the fair ended in 1991 with the disintegration of Soviet Union increased the change of direction of the military strategy. Gulf War (1990-1991) reveal the utility of PGMs, up to date information and synch harmony between air and ground forces. Among these the Powell Doctrine which stressed for the application of massive power as well as clear aims and mandates also dominated the Gulf War period.
But on the other hand, the post-Cold War period had its problems with budgets and forces being relieved. The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program set to accomplish strategic changes by shutting or restructuring ineffective military facilities. Although free of cost concerns, their implementation led to discussions regarding the effects on forces’ preparedness and regional markets.
The tragic terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 which was considered to be the turning point in the changing the strategy of USA. US stepped into the asymmetrical conflicts. US government created the Department of Homeland Security and the US North Command, could be seen as examples of the trends towards homeland defence.
The aim to ‘capture’ the hearts and minds of affected populations, as well as the intent to strengthen local institutions of governance was unconventional. Sceptics of this period claim that the military was stretched thin with people and assets having been committed to long campaigns.
Over the period of a decade military reforms in the USA have been motivated by a shift in focus to potential peer competitors, most prominently China and Russia. The current National Defence Strategy of USA was declared in September 2018 also highlights the move from counter-terrorism to strategic competition. Such a shift requires the acquisition of new technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), cyber warfare, and hypersonic weapons.
The US forces have also focus on at transforming its force structure as well. The concepts as the Army’s Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and the Navy’s Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) the indications of marking of a warfighting environment. The Space Force created in 2019 also proves the knowledge US government have related to space as a strategic domain nowadays.
However, there are still obstacles with reference to the subject. Lack of funds, conservatism, and the requirements of compatibility between the forces of different countries are the problems that remain with the identified type. Further, controversy regarding the future of autonomous weapon systems makes ethical and strategic questions a public matter.
To date, the United States of America is still considered, or is still the world’s super power in terms of military strength, efficiency in projecting force, as well as supply support and leverage of technology. They have lots of problem in trying to stand up to the challenge of a fast-transforming security architecture. As the war has shown in Ukraine, there remains demand for traditional and credible deterrence and as tensions in the Indo-Pacific demonstrate, there is desire for naval and air force capabilities.
People challenges are also faced here especially in areas relating to personnel. Shortages of recruitment and problems in retaining soldiers have created issues in applying an all-volunteer force. Furthermore, the military has made strides at exploring solutions to subjects such as inclusion and mental health and while this has been praised, it was also criticised.
Technologically, the US still remains the one of the most innovative nations in the world. However, because the People’s Republic of China has been expanding its military footprint at a relatively high pace, and especially in such spheres as quantum computing and artificial intelligence, the task appears to be especially fascinating. Another important issue is cybersecurity as budgets pour into US infrastructure and defence networks adversaries.
The organizational changes in the United States military after the Second World War reveal many significant factors such as strategy, and technology, political situation and its impact. Laws like the National Security Act of 1947, the Goldwater-Nichols act and change of focus to counter terrorism after 9/11 have formed a force that can combat different menace. But more is required in today’s era of competition between the major powers with respect to technology and force structure.
The legendary US military however has never been in a less certain world in the future despite having the most proficient and potent military power than any other country in the world. To achieve integration of old guards and new future beyond innovation, strategic vision that addresses the aspect of evolution of the warfare domain will be needed.
