This essay (4-6 pages) is due after the completion of F110. The final essay is a comparative analysis. You will compare the processes used to change the Army during the post-Vietnam timeframe to the processes used today. Use one of the Big 5 from your readings as the basis to conduct the comparison. The primary topic of the paper is not one of the Big 5, but using one of the Big 5 provides you the information needed to do a comparison of past processes vs. today’s processes.
JCIDS, DAS, PPBE, TAA, TAP, etc. did not exist during the post-Vietnam era. So how did the Army make decisions and how is that different than today? Why does it matter?
This is not a history paper of what happened in the past, nor is it a paper that acts like the current processes were used in the past. It is a comparative analysis. How did the Army decide what strategic changes needed to take place? How was it different than what happens today? What is your analysis of this difference/these differences? The preceding is an example for looking at strategic guidance. Ensure you address each of the ELOs. You must address materiel and organizational change in your essay. Ensure you do not simply restate history and regurgitate today’s process; that is not a comparative analysis between two different things. See the F100 Discussion Board for further discussion.
Paper Structure
– Introduction (a proper introduction with the paper’s purpose, thesis and primary supporting topics)
– Strategic problem (what condition was the Army in post-Vietnam, the threat that needed addressed, etc. Why did the Army need to change?)
– Strategic decision making (comparison and analysis)
– Capability determination (comparison and analysis)
– Acquisition (comparison and analysis)
– Organization (comparison and analysis)
– Conclusion (a proper conclusion that restates the primary points and does not introduce new information)
A paper 4-6 pages in length (3.5 pages is not 4 pages) is not a lot of room. You need to get to drawing out your specific differences and how that is specifically different than today. Again, do not try to give a history lesson and then regurgitate the entire current processes. That is not a comparison, and that is not analysis.
any notes referenced should be sited as notes