Force Structure

U.S. military forces in Europe are being cut by one-third--from 311,000 positions in 1990 to about 100,000 positions by 1996. Despite this downsizing, debate continues over the size and the composition of these forces and whether further reductions are possible. This report evaluates the Pentagon's force reduction plans and discusses (1) the basis for the size and the composition of U.S. military forces planned for Europe at the end of fiscal year 1996 and (2) the major military capabilities that will be affected by the cuts. GAO focuses primarily on the size and the composition of Army forces in Europe since they constitute about two-thirds of all forces there.

GAO found that: (1) DOD plans to retain 100,000 troops in Europe to respond to its full range of assigned missions; (2) DOD based its decision on the forces' composition and size on U.S. security and political objectives, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) commitments, and its judgment; (3) NATO plans to use smaller, mobile, and more flexible forces do not include deploying the U.S. corps as a unit; (4) DOD has streamlined Army forces in Europe and will be dependent on reinforcements from the United States to maintain its combat capability; (5) although the Army has tried to retain maximum combat capability by reducing support forces, force reductions have reduced Army combat capabilities; (6) the U.S. military capability most affected by force reductions is independent fighting as a corps in a major war without allies, but the need for that capability has diminished significantly since the Soviet Union's demise; and (7) DOD is reviewing whether the retention of heavy armored forces in Europe is appropriate to meet post-Cold War challenges given Eastern Europe's uncertain political future.