Overview of the Total Army Design and Cost System

This report describes an integrated collection of models, procedures, and databases called the Total Army Design and Cost System, which is designed to address a broad range of force structure and resource allocations issues and to determine the resource implications of narrower but more detailed proposed changes within the framework of the Total Army. Starting with the results of combat analysis, the first element of the system--the Theater Support Model--estimates the number of support units needed for the combat forces. The total force requirement is then passed to the Transition to War Model, which determines the future peacetime Army, including active and reserve components, needed to provide the necessary forces given a desired deployment schedule. The Path Model then compares the present force with the desired future forces and provides a road map--a series of inventories of Army units, beginning with the present force and ending with the desired future force--to follow in achieving the future force. The Total Army Cost Model completes the final step of translating the inventories into annual cost and resource requirements.