Integrating Landpower in the Indo–Asia–Pacific Through 2020: Analysis of a Theater Army Campaign Design
Integrating Landpower in the Indo–Asia–Pacific Through 2020: Analysis of a Theater Army Campaign Design
“The United States has been, and always will be, a Pacific nation.”1 These words, spoken by the President of the United States in 2011, signified the beginning of America’s “Rebalance to the Pacific.” First codified in the 2012 Department of Defense (DoD) planning guidance and reaffirmed in the 2015 National Security Strategy, the emphasis on the Indo–Asia–Pacific has driven change within the United States Army.2 The elevation of U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) to a four-star headquarters, a redistribution of assigned capability, a review of the role of landpower in the region and a new theater army campaign design are direct results of the national emphasis on the Indo–Asia–Pacific. USARPAC’s Theater Army Campaign drives Army activity in the region through 2020, is thoroughly nested with national security objectives, achieves the Chief of Staff of the Army’s vision for the force and describes how land capability enables the achievement of U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) requirements in the region. Furthermore, the design leverages the land component’s unique ability to influence the environment through personal interaction with the human domain.The following analysis will focus on four unique areas related to USARPAC’s campaign design, offering an examination of the command’s approach to campaign operations as well as key considerations that went into plan development. First, an examination of the significance of the land domain in the Indo–Asia–Pacific region is provided as a foundation for understanding USARPAC’s campaign environment. Second, an overview of the campaign framework is provided along with an investigation of how USARPAC has transformed its organizational structure to increase effectiveness. Finally, an overview of the Campaign Assessment Process is included as an example of how an organization can evaluate accuracy and precision and recognize change.