Evolution and Endurance

The U.S. Army Division in the Twentieth Century

Richard W. Kedzior

ResearchPublished 2000

The division has proved itself a durable organizational concept for the U.S. Army. Despite numerous permutations, it prevailed as the Army's preeminent fighting organization throughout the twentieth century. Its robustness, flexibility, and adaptability have allowed it to absorb and exploit new technologies and doctrinal concepts. This brief history of thedivision examines the changes the division has undergone, exploring the most significant rationales for each step in the evolutionary cycle. It asks important questions about the division's future and recommends serious and intense experimentation to determine whether the division has outlived its usefulness or is still the optimal unit to best serve the Army and the nation.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 2000
  • Pages: 74
  • Document Number: MR-1211-A

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Kedzior, Richard W., Evolution and Endurance: The U.S. Army Division in the Twentieth Century. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2000. https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1211.html.
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