The AG Corps Force Development Update, Article Review Example

The article The AG Corps Force Development Update by David Galassie describes a major reform of the US armed forces that has been made in response to the challenge of time – the need to create an effective force to combat insurgencies as well as maintain peacekeeping activity and be a traditional country’s protective resource. The article is presented so that both professionals and laypeople will be interested in and informed about the undertaking of national importance. The essence of the reform lies in the organization of Brigade Combat Teams that are smaller and more mobile and presumably more sustainable. The reform is also an attempt to uniform the complex system of battalions and brigades and divide the army into more convenient modules. Each Brigade Combat Team is to consist of less than 4,000 soldiers plus Support Brigades. Moreover, the idea is to forego the use of stationary headquarters and to organize functionally driven ones which can be of two types: a primary warfighting headquarters and an Army support headquarters.

The significance of the reform is partially economic (the effect is achieved by the elimination of nine Brigade Level Headquarters and thirty-two Battalion Headquarters). The human resources services will be accessible by every soldier or commander at all levels. Moreover, the reform means a considerable reduction in the number of personnel due to the merger of MOA 42A and 42L.

In addition, the reform meets the need to reorganize personnel services – it will be improved and commanders will be able to have an immediate control over them.

In general, David Galassie finds the reform necessary and positive. His conclusion advocates the reform. He sounds a bit contradictory when estimating the timing chosen for the reform. Although he mentions that the restructuring is difficult enough to perform at peaceful time and is many times as difficult at the time of war, he also writes about the acute need for it which has been demonstrated by the current Global War on Terrorism and the events in Iraq. The author welcomes the idea of the introduction of Brigade and Battalion S1 Section in the armed forces. He believes that it is not only intended but will prove to be a highly-qualified uniform military organ. He also sounds satisfied with the results of staffing the new structure of the army (mainly by means of reorganizing the pre-existing one) and sees the reform as completed in this sphere. He ends the article with an optimistic promise that the reform will bear fruit “long into the 21^st Century” (Galassie, 2005).

From my point of view, the AG Corps Development is at the heart of the Army Transformation because a successful army is a collective effort of individuals – professional, inspired, and morally impeccable. It is essential, therefore, that human resources management be both selective and supportive. I like the idea of every member of the armed forces having an easy and immediate access to human resources teams and all their functions.

On having read the article, the AG officers will be, first and foremost, thoroughly informed about the nature of restructuring. Secondly, they will understand the simplifying effect of the reform and not be reluctant to accept it despite traditions and habits. They will also have to adjust to the new system by updating their skills, especially in the field of human resources management.

References

Galassie, D. The AG Corps Force Development Update. The Journal of the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, p. 23-31. 2005/2006.