Mounted Combat System Company: Not Your Current Full Spectrum Armor Force

United States Army armor companies equipped with M1-series tanks are currently conducting stability and support operations following a period of high intensity conflict in Iraq. Simultaneously, the United States Army is pursuing its transformation to the Future Force. The general trend in both Department of Defense and U.S. Army transformation efforts calls for lighter, more deployable units to meet the demands of the future operational environment. This trend is evident in the armor company equivalent of the future 14the Mounted Combat System company. MCS companies will have lighter and fewer vehicles as well as fewer personnel than current tank companies. These factors will make the company more readily deployable, while anticipated technological windfalls are to ensure that the MCS company is capable of full spectrum operations. The windfalls purportedly will enable forces like the MCS company to attain a level of situational awareness that allows units to develop situations out of contact and kill enemy targets at extended ranges. The purpose of this monograph is to determine if the Mounted Combat System company will offer an increase in capability commensurate with the challenges of conducting full spectrum operations in the future operational environment. The question is analyzed by reviewing the following topics: doctrinal references on the operational environment and the requirements of full spectrum operations; recent historical experiences of U.S. Army armor forces conducting full spectrum operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom; and, descriptions of the MCS company in the final version of the Operational and Organizational Plan for the Maneuver Unit of Action. The projected capabilities of the MCS company are assessed relative to an M1-series tank company using versatility and robustness as the evaluation criteria. The monograph determines that the MCS company will not be as versatile or robust as an M1-series tank company. Consequently, the Army may be sa