Benefits and Problems Associated With Improving the Ratio of U.S. Combat Troops to Military Support Personnel in Europe

Among programs to increase the ratio of combat troops to support forces without increasing overall U.S. military forces in Europe is one prescribed by the Nunn Amendment, which requires conversion of headquarters and military support personnel to combat personnel. The Nunn Amendment required a reduction of 18,000 in authorized support personnel in the services in Europe during fiscal years (FY) 1975 and 1976.

Implementation of the amendment caused an increase in U.S. combat forces in Europe and a decrease in the authorized forces for headquarters and support services. Military services reduced support positions in Europe by 18,836, but many of these were merely paper reductions. Total military personnel in Europe actually increased during FY 1975 and 1976 because there were more authorized spaces than people in Europe at the beginning of FY 1975. New combat units were drawn from elements of the Army's force structure. While more combat units and increased manpower provided added capability to meet the threat of a short war, there was a deterioration of some wartime combat support capabilities. Some support reductions have resulted in greater need for increased host-nation support. Noncombat areas omitted from reductions in the amendment were U.S. military community support and noncombat positions at the decision level.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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