Army Aviation's Pacific Rebalance: Evolution towards Maritime Operations - Case Studies of Uphold Democracy Haitian Liberation 1994, East Timor Crisis 1999, Fukushima Nuclear Disaster 2011

This report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. U.S. Army Aviation provides essential movement capabilities to maneuver and joint force commanders. Transitioning from exclusively land-based operations to potential maritime operations in the U.S. Pacific command area of responsibility, Army Aviation faces increased demands to overcome geographical complexities to support joint operations. This monograph examines historical maritime operations where Army Aviation's maritime applications provided commanders with increased options to achieve mission success. Army Aviation operations in the maritime domain pose unique challenges which require innovative adaptations of doctrine, organization, and training to overcome these operational challenges. Through continued doctrinal development and joint, multinational training exercises Army Aviation can augment existing maritime capabilities to increase the U.S. military's operational capacity in the U.S. Pacific command area of responsibility.

Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Aviation/Amphibious Capability: Doctrine, Organization, Training, and Equipment 3. Case Study #1: Operation Uphold Democracy: Haitian Liberation 1994 4. Case Study #2: Operation Stabilise: East Timor Crisis 1999 5. Case Study #3: Operation Tomodachi: Fukushima Nuclear Disaster 2011 6. Contemporary Multinational Operations: U.S. Army Aviation with Pacific Partners 7. Conclusion

In 2011, the United States government introduced the "Pivot to the Pacific" to rebalance its strategic focus following a decade of emphasis on the Middle East and Southwest Asia. To do so, the United States intends to rebalance its diplomatic, economic, and military focus toward increased emphasis on Asia-Pacific regional threats and opportunities. Militarily, the Pacific region's maritime-dominated environment requires reprioritization from the land-based competence earned in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. Pacific Command's (USPACOM) expansive Area of Responsibility (AOR) ranges from dispersed islands to densely populated urban centers. For United States Army Aviation, the Pacific rebalance requires a broadened approach to its core competencies to increase its interoperability between land and maritime environments. U.S. Army Aviation proved its integral capability to project power throughout a land-based operational environment. To match this capability in the U.S. Pacific Command's maritime area of responsibility, U.S. Army Aviation must evolve to maintain its ability to support joint maneuver forces in maritime dominated environments. Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom's land-based theaters allowed combat aviation brigades (CABs) to maximize Army rotary wing capabilities via central location. This placement enabled commanders' to project combat forces throughout the depth of the operational environment and maximize centralized support. In future operations, the USPACOM AOR's dispersion will likely impede centralized aviation support in maritime-dominated operational environments. To overcome geographic impediments, the Army develop "innovative and collaborative" approaches to its doctrine, training, and ability to organize to fulfill its core competencies in support the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility.

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