Go Big or Go Home

Many authors have begun to write that the heavy force has no role in the future contemporary operating environment - especially where internal political-militia groups rely on guerrilla tactics. The US heavy force is an integral part of America's strategic land power. Integrating heavy and light units created combined arms teams that proved their effectiveness in combat. In the future contemporary environment, integration of heavy and light forces generates tactical overmatch in the 21st Century. US Army doctrine articulated by FM 3-24 and FM 3-90.06 is sound. Combined, the two documents form the basis for integrated, combined arms, full-spectrum operations. Heavy- light training must be conducted at home station, deployed as a coherent force to meet the joint force commander's requirements and supported through ARFORGEN. US operations in Iraq provide multiple examples of how to integrate heavy and light forces. When contrasted with the Soviet Afghan War, the opportunity exists to incorporate heavy forces in NATO's current fight in Afghanistan to gain operational and tactical advantages. Land power is the Army's responsibility. Within the dictates of current national strategy, the Army must continue to integrate heavy and light forces over the broad spectrum of combat in order to generate decisive victory over conventional and nonconventional opponents.