U S Army Command and General Staff Coll

Land Power in Asia: Historical Insights for the Pivot to the Pacific U S Army Command and General Staff Coll

Publisher Marketing: The 'Pivot to the Pacific' reasserts American power in a critical region, reassures American allies, and maintains the current regional balance of power in the face of rising Chinese might. Military power is essential to the rebalancing effort. Many analysts assert air and sea power will dominate military strategy and operations in the Pacific. The Navy and the Air Force suggest AirSea Battle, emerging Joint Doctrine, as the operational concept the United States should employ. It is intended to counter Chinese efforts to prevent American forces from reaching the western Pacific and limit their ability to maneuver once there. While essential, AirSea Battle does not address all potential phases of a prospective conflict. It is exclusively focused on JP 3-0 phases I 'Deter' and II 'Seize the Initiative'. The U. S. experience in World War II demonstrates the vital role that land power can play in the Pacific. Land power properly employed can help American military strategy address all phases of a potential conflict. U. S. Army land power can assist in cementing strategic alliances by building partnership capacity, provide a forced entry capability, and offer the ability to expand or intensify a conflict to force it to a decisive end.