United States Army Power Projection In The 21st Century PDF Download

"The United States has enjoyed an unprecedented superior advantage projecting combatcredible forces. General Darren McDew, former commander, United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), and a foremost authority on Power Projection, can attest to the United States' Strategic strength and reach with its Power Projection capabilities. In his words,"No other nation in the world can compete with the United States in conventional warfare because we plan, secure, and distribute combat capability so well." USTRANSCOM, a Unified Command, a global combatant command with functional responsibilities for air, land, and sea transportation for the Department of Defense, ultimately delivering national objectives on behalf of the President and Secretary of Defense." These national objectives are achievable by, with and through the use of the critical infrastructure of Army Power Projection Platforms on military installations. A Power Projection Platform is an "Army installation that strategically deploy one or more high priority active component brigades or larger and/or mobilize and deploy high priority Army reserve component units." These installations enabled the Army to mobilize rapidly, generated, and project formidable combat credible forces anywhere in the world to face potential adversaries. Power Projection Platforms are central to Army Forces' deployment to fight and win the nation's wars should other deterrence options fail. Readiness is the Army's number one priority, and installations are essential, "The Army's assistant chief of installation management (ACSIM) ensures readiness by establishing policies, synchronizing programs, and providing resources for installation infrastructure and services" A risk to Readiness and the critical infrastructure at Army installations has surfaced because of 21st Century digital interconnectivity, improved technology all connected by the internet. The U.S. now faces a cyber threat that erodes America's Strategic advantage to project combat power and achieve National Defense Strategy and Objectives. This threat is compound because the Army's power projection infrastructure relies heavily on commercial organizations in private industry. Without the appropriate deterrence measures, these organizations are susceptible to attacks below the level of armed conflict, including cyber and utility sabotage. Because of the growing threat of near-peer nation-states, rogue nations' and terrorist organizations, defending critical military and civilian network infrastructure is significant if the Army seeks to retain its competitive advantage. This paper examines the critical infrastructure, vulnerabilities, threats, policies, gaps, and authorities necessary to protect the Army's Power Projection Platforms (PPP) from cyber-intrusions. Finally, it will make recommendations on training, governance and legislation, responsibilities required to defend the critical infrastructure that underwrites the Army Power Projection Platforms."--Introduction.