STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF THE ARMY HONORABLE WILBER M. BRUCKER BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF ARMED SERVICES OF THE SENATE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00357R000100260023-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2013
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: January 1, 1957
• Content Type: MISC

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STATEMENT BY
SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
HONORABLE WILBER M. BRUCKER
BEFCRE THE
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
OF TBE'
SENATE
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MR CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE:
Last year when I testified before your committee in respect to the
United States Army, I spoke in terms of plans and hopes for the future.
This year I am happy to report many concrete accomplishments and much sig-
nificant progress. You are interested in whether our Country is receiving
the maximum return for its tremendous investment in defense. You wish to
be assured that the Army is geared to meet its day by'day responsibilities
as well as to respond to the rapidly changing technology of warfare. I am
able to answer this question definitely and emphatically in the affirmative.
The active Army of FT 1958 will comsist of a million young men and
women in uniform. There will be 17 combat divisions, 9 regiments and regi
mental combat teams, a few-atomic support commands and about the same total
number of antiaircraft battalions as in the preceding year. I will leave
to General Taylor the detailed presentation on the strength, organization
and Aebployment of these forces and particularly the new Pentomic structure
of the Armyls divisions. I have seen the Army around the world and I
assure you thatour country has never put into the field a more thoroughly
equipped and superbly trained Army than the one which is now stationed along
the outposts of the Free World. These forces, together with our Active
Army strategic reserves at home, are unmistakably ready to fight now if
the need should arise. This readiness is an impressive deterrent against
aggression and a powerful force ready to fight if deterrence should fail.
The United States Severth Army the most splendidly trained oper-
ational army the United States has ever had in time of peace ... is
deployed across Western Germany. With its ever?increasing atomic power,
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the Seventh Army is the keystone of NATO's ground defenses. Its major
forces consist of five crack divisions--two armored, two infantry and
one airborne--together with three armored cavalry regiments. These are
backed by units armed with CORPORAL guided missiles, HONEST JOHN rockets,
and 280-millimeter guns, all capable of delivering atomic warheads. Also,
an Army regiment in Berlin is solid evidence of America's military might
to the citizens of that heroic island of freedom, and an ever-present
reminder and warning to the surrounding communists that America means
business. These forces in Germany are supported by a line of communication
from the Bay of Biscay across France that constitutes a logistical pipeline*
It is as modern and fully equipped as we can make it.
In Northern and Eastern Italy, the Army's Southern European Task
Force provides atomic support for NATO divisions defending that vital area.
Equipped with HONEST JOHN rockets and CORPORAL guided missiles, this task
force is the forerunner of a number of atomic support commands specifically
designed to reinforce our Army with the most modern weapons.
In Korea the Eighth Army, a corps of two U. S. combat divisions is
deployed along the demilitarized zone, helping to guard aginst a renewed
attack by the communist forces in position on the other side of the narrow
armistice corridor. Here the Army also continues to aid?with equipment
and training the 20 divisions constituting the valiant army of the
Republic of Korea. Army troops are supporting other mutual defense
agreements in the Pacific area which involve Japan, the Nationalist
Chinese on Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Viet
Nam, and Pakistan. The combat readiness of Army forces stationed in Japan,
in Korea, and in Hawaii, and their ability to move rapidly within the
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Far Eastern areas if trouble should arise, give material substance to our
national intent to preserve the peace.
Here in the Western Hemisphere, the Army provides for the continental
defense of the United States against airborne or seaborne troops. Nine
Army combat divisions are held in strategic reserve in order that we shall
be able to reinforce our overseas garrisons if the need should arise.
From far up in Alaska, where the Army is manning our northern-most outposts,
all the way to the Panama Canal in the Caribbean, Army troops are protecting
the hemisphere approaches. Army antiaircraft units--a majority of them
armed with the powerful and effictive NIKE AJAX guided missile?night and
day share responsibility for the defense of major cities and industrial areas
in the United States against air attack.
The United States is associated with 45 other nations in the most
powerful system of collective security ever created. The Army stands
guard shoulder to shoulder with the troops of our allied friends along
the iron and the ba mboo curtains as a potent reminder that we are ready
to honor our international agreements promptly. In support of our mutual
defense alliances and other t arrangements, forty per cent of the million
young men and w omen in our Army are stationed overseas in over 70 countries.
Army missions in 43 countries of Europe, Asia, and South America are busy
with the continued strengthening of our allies, Thousands of highly
qualified Army troops are directly engaged in helping to train approximately
200 allied foreign divisions--a sizeable part of the Free Worldls
military strength.
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On the other side the Soviet-Sino bloc has a gigantic military
machine consisting of over 6-1/2 million men in its ground forces. The
Soviet Army ground forces alone number over 2.1/2 million men organized into
100 Rifle Divisions, 55 Mechanized Divisions, 20 Tank Divisions, and
supporting units. Host of these divisions are located in the border regions
of the USSR, except for 22 divisions in East Germany, 2 divisions in Poland,
and 2 in Rumania. The normal garrison of 2 divisions in Hungary was re-
inforced by about 5 more divisions from the USSR and Rumania for the
suppression of the revolution.
The Soviets last year made much of an announced intention to reduce
their *armed forces (ground, sea, and air), by a total of one million,
two hundred thousand men. So far we have no evidence to show that such
redactions have been made.
The Soviet ground forces have been in large measure re-equipped since
World War II. This re-equipment program has provided them with a complete
new family of small arms, new artillery pieces, new trucks, medium tanks,
and amphibious vehicles, as well as helicopters. As an example of the ex-
tent of the re-equipment program, we estimate that about 28,000 of the new
T-54 medium tanks have been produced. Soviet Forces in East Germany have
received approximately 4,000 of these.
The Chinese Communists also maintain large army ground forces.-2-1/2
million men organized into approximately 150 divisions plus supporting
units. This army has been undergoing an important reorganization and modern.
ization program since 1952 to include standardization of weapons, increased
service and support units and a vastly expanded military school system. .
The North Korean and Viet Minh armies add to Communist military capabilities
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in the Far East. In Eastern Europe, the Satellites maintain fairly large
armies but in view of the recent developments there, we believe that the
majority of these forces would not be sufficiently reliable for offensive
operations against the Nest.
The savage purge of liberty in Hungary, the unmistakable attempts of
the Soviet Union to establish a foothold in the vital Middle East, the in-
creasingly brazen efforts of the Kremlin to foment discord, exploit unrest,
and sap the power and resolution of the Free World have sounded a clarion
warning. They have used the threat of force to exert the pressure of
political domination on world affairs. There is no reasonable doubt as to
what would be in store for us if we should fail to man our own defenses
with strength, determination and constant vigilance. We must be ready to
counter aggression not only in general war but also in any other form.
There is therefore a need to proportion our force to the threat in what-
ever form it may take.
It must be our consistent aim to prevent the outbreak of a general
war which can have no other effect than global devastation. Thi:s is the
philosophy and the background upon which is based the Army's budget request
for Fiscal Year 1958 of $9.721 billions. This is a sizeable financial out.
lay that must of course be justified in detail before your approval can be
expected. I can only point out at this time that the Army's budget request
represents months of detailed study and the considered opinion of the most
mature military leadership that this country has to offer. It is drawn in
the light of the many-sided threat confronting us.
The Army programs for Fiscal Year 1958 represent the activities and
functions essential to the security of our nation. These programs are
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mutually supporting. The curtailment of one necessarily affects the
others.--and each bears on our over-all effectiveness. I trust that the
Congress win see fit to support the Army by approving the budget request
which has been submitted for Fiscal Year l958. Any reduction in this
budget would considerably handicap us in our efforts as a member of the
Defense team to provide adequately for the security of the United States,
We have made progress in many fields during the past year in organiza-
tion, business management -- Research and Development of new weapons and
materials 4.M.. in our general state of readiness in our morale and wen..
being in our reserve programs and in many other fields. We are in a
state of rapid transition to new weapons3 new concepts3 and new and greater
capabilities. At the same time we have kept a steady grip on present day
realities.
I am proud to announce that the Army is now in the process of a major
reorganization of, its principal combat units, the purpose of w hich is to
improve our ability to fight effectively under conditions of atomic warfare
without loss of capability to conduct so-called conventional warfare. This
is the culmination of many years of planning, testing and experimentation.
This decision marks the first real progress in organization for ground
combat since World War II,
We are also organizing atomic support commands which are particularly
suitable to provide atomic support for the forces of our friends and allies
abroad. This year for the first time we are activating additional atomic
support commands along the lines of the Southern European Task Force
SETAF . which backs up NATO forces in Italy with its nuclear weapons. Next
year additional atomic support commands will be formed*
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AIR DEFENSE
We are proud of the increasingly important role of the Army in the
air defense of Continental United States. The responsibility for defend-
ing the United States against a possible sneak attack rests, of course,
with the Continental Air Defense Command of thich the Armyts antiaircraft
command is a major component. Army NIKE missile units of the Army's
Antiaircraft Command are joined with the forces of the Air Force and the Navy
in the unified and integrated air defense system. By the end of Fiscal
Year 1.958, approximately 70% of the antiaircraft battalions assigned to
Continental Air Defense will be NIKE missile battalions.
Last year we spoke extensively about the imminent development of
an improvement of the original NIKE antiaircraft missile which at that
time we identified as NIKE B. I am sure that you will be pleased to hear
that this missile system, which we now call NIKE HERCULES, has undergone
tests and the results indicate that the performance has exceeded the
design objectives. Equipment will be coming off production lines shortly
and NIKE HERCULES will be added to the National Arsenal.
You can easily understand that a group of NIKE batteries stationed in
a circle around one of our cities require intricate coordination so that
two missiles will not engage the same target. This formidable problem has
been solved by the development by the Army of an elaborate electronic system
called the Missile Master which will produce information necessary for Army
units to obtain the most efficient distribution of fire against the avail.
able targets. The Missile Master can operate independently or in conjunction
with the Air Force SAGE system when that system becomes operational.
The first Missile Mester is now being installed at a key installation in
the Continental United States. The employment of Missile Masters will
greatly increase the effectiveness of the NIKE missile defense,
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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
We are requesting $400 million to finance our Research and Develop-
ment Program in Fiscal Year 1958. During this period we will concentrate
on developments in the field of missiles, target acquisition devices, faster
and better communication systems, and mobility through aerial and ground
vehicles. We intend to keep the Army fully effective in carrying out its
ground and antiaircraft combat mission. All of our weapons and ....weapons .
systems must be closely integrated with the needs of the field commander.
As a result of ever-increasing emphasis in the field of research and
development, we are stocking our arsenal with an adequate variety of
atomic weapons precisely tailored to our needs and which can be used with
discrimination against close-in, as well as far distant targets with com-
plete accuracy, day or night, despite rain, snow, fog or other weather
conditions. Thirteen years of pioneering experience in the missile field
is paying rich dividends.
At the same time we are not overlooking the importance of continued
development of conventional weapons which are needed to accomplish a great
many tasks for 41inich atomic weapons would be totally unsuitable. We are
continuously developing lightweight materiel and equipment with an aim
toward ever-increasing mobility. We are looking forward to the day -when we
can augment the capability of the tank, the truck and other heavy and
relatively slow vehicles with lighter airborne equipment and more effective
aerial vehicles,
One great source of satisfaction is the fact that the Research and
Development Program has decisively moved out of the promise into the
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progress stage. During the past year the R&D Program introduced:
.the greatly improved NIKE - ?HERCULES
. the highly accurate LACROSSE
. the ballistic missile REDSTONE
the M56 self-.propelled 90mm gun
. the anti-tank missile DART
. a new general purpose machine gun, cal. 30 M60
a new lightweight 1/4-ton Jeep, XM 151
. the mechanical mule
. an improved version of the M48 medium tank with
greatly increased combat range
. new aircraft, such as the H-40 Utility Helicopter,
the H-37 Transport Helicopter, and others
. a new communications system
One recent development project of which we are proud is the Armyts
first atomic power plant at Fort Belvoir which is rapidly nearing com-
pletion. It is anticipated that dedication ceremonies marking the
completion of this atomic reactor will take place in late April. Sub.
sequent models of this atomic reactor powmplant are under consideration
for remote military installations.
We have under development smaller, lighter nuclear power plants
which can be broken down and transported by air. These plants are
designed to supply electrical power for remote and isolated stations.
In order to assure the development of an intermediate range ballistic
missile at the earliest possible date, the Secretary of Defense has
authorized the Army to continue for the time being the development of
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the JUPITER missile, although the employment responsibility for that
weapon has been assigned to the Navy and to the Air Force.
The Anny Ballistic Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal has recently
achieved some gratifying progress in connection with the JUPITER IRBM,
We are well ahead of schedule and tests to date indicate that this missile
will meet the criteria established for it.
PROCUREMENT AND PRODUCTION
Illustrating our efforts to move forward as rapidly as possible in
the modernization of the Army is the continuing high proportion of our
Procurement and Production appropriation to be devoted to guided missiles
and guided missile equipment. In FY 1956 under the Procurement and Pro?
duction appropriation, approximately 23 per cent was for guided missiles
and related equipment. For FY 1957) 115 Per cent is for these items;
for P 1958, almost 50 per cent is for this purpose. This transition
to guided missiles and atomic weapons requires the creation and maintenance
of new types of production facilities in our production base. Wherever
possible, existing government facilities are being utilized.
The medium tank is one of our important conventional weapons that
will be of great value in either an atomic or a non.atornic conflict.
Its great mobility and armor protection make it a key weapon in our
arsenal. We are insuring continued development and improvement of our
tanks by keeping at least one production line in operation during n 1958.
With this objective in mind, we are going to place an order for 900
tanks for the coming year.
MILITARY PERSONNEL
I have already mentioned that the Amy will have a strength of
1,000,000 men during FY 1958. To cover the pay of these people, provide
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for their food and clothing and the cost of their travel, we are requesting
$3.5 billion -- about the same as the amount appropriated for FY 1957.
While our average strength during FY 1958 will be slightly lower than
FY 1957, various cost els ments have increased, and new incentive measures
granted by the Congress have added new fund requirements*
As you know, the Army is forever seeking means of making a military
career more attractive to both its officers and enlisted personnel. We
will continue to do everything possible to encourage qualified men and women
to stay with us and to recognize the value of their service to this country.
I am sure that you are interested in knowing whether or not the var?
ious career incentives which the 84th Congress enacted into law have
produced the desired effect. Certain of these measures have not been in
effect for a sufficient period of time to permit a complete evaluation*
We believe, however,that the legislation providing additional medical
care for dependents will have a pronounced and beneficial effect over a
long period. We believe also that the Servicemen's and Veterans'
Survivors Benefits will be viewed by the great majority of military
personnel as an additional attraction of military service*
The provisions of readjustment pay for members of reserve components
who may be involuntarily released from active duty cannot help but improve
morale* We have high hopes for the ultimate effect of the Regular Army
Augmentation program which will reduce the high rate of turnover in the
officer corps while increasing career security*
Other aspects of the Career Incentive Program have been in effect
long enough so that we are ..able to properly and fully evaluate their effect,
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We know, for example, that legislation continuing authority for retirement
in the highest temporary grade has had an extremely beneficial effect,
encouraging a number of highly capable officers who otherwise would have
left the Service to stay on active duty and continue to offer their
valuable services.
We also know that there has been a marked improvement in the situation
with respect to medical and dental officers since the enactment of the
Doctors Incentive Pay legislation. During the last 6 months of 1956,
applications for appointment in the Regular Army from among doctors and
dentists increased by 65% over the same period in 1955. While other
factors may have contributed to this increase: we believe that the improve.
ment is mostly due to increased pay.
One of our most serious incentives problems is the present deficit in
family housing. Here the Capehart Act has been extremely helpful and we
are sparing no effort to utilize its excellent provisions. Of the 51,000
total units planned for FY 1957 and 1958, 45,000 are under the Capehart
program. Five thousand are already under construction, over 9,000 are
ready for award as soon as successful bidders arrange their financing,
and approximately 400 are out for bids.
Some of the most appealing features of the service are intangibles
which cannot be counted in dollars or measured in privileges. In this
connection we have initiated procedures to continue the lineage of our
famous regiments, regardless of the forms which our future tactical
organization may take. We shall institutionalize these regiments and,
as our Army changes between peace and wartime, vary the number of their
component units. By perpetuating the organizations associated with such
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names as Valley Forge, Gettysburg, San Juan Hill, Chateau Thierry,
Normandy, the Pusan Bridgehead, we can make every man feel the link with
the past, as well as his identity with progress.
RESERVE FORCES
A vital and integral part of our Army team is its Ready Reserve which
stands ever ready in the event of emergency to put aside civilian pursuits
and participate with the active forces. Our splendid National Guard,
traditionally the backbone of our reserve strength is large and well-
equipped. At the same time we are building a dynamic Army Reserve under
the provisions of the Reserve Forces ,Act of 1955. Since the passage of the
Act -- a little over a year ago 52,639 young men have entered the U.S.
Army Reserve to take advantage of the six months active training program.
The number enlisting the past week was 2,507. To obtain these results
the Army has conducted the greatest publicity campaign in its history
to focus attention on the provisions of RFA-55.
The quality and intensity of the publicity campaign was attested to
by the award to the Army of the "Silver Anvil" trophy by the American
Public Relations Association for the best public relations program con-
ducted by any governmental agency during the year. The Army worked
closely with 370 national organizations in obtaining support for the
Reserve programs, including the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America, and numerous
academic* industrial and trade groups*
An Assistant Chief of Staff for Reserve Components has been estab
lished as a part of the Army Staff here in Neshington. A Deputy Commanding
General for Reserve Components has been established at Headquarters CONARC
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at Fort Monroe. Each of the six Deputy Continental Army Commanders has
been designated to coordinate and sUpervise Reserve Affairs. By
22 February, 123,874 men had enlisted under the various provisions of the
Act since its inauguration in August 1955. Over 10,000 personnel, 17 .0
18..1/2 years of age, have completed the six months training program and
approximately 20,000 are in training right now.
The $207 million requested in our FY 1958 budget provides for a
steady and important increase in the size of the Army Reserve. The
number of Reserves in drill pay status will increase from 256,000 at the
end of FY 1957 to about 300,000 at the end of FY 1958? The 4320 million
requested for the National Guard will provide for a continuing level
of 400,000 men.
To provide administrative and training facilities for the Reserve
bomponents, we are requesting $55 million, the same as for FY 1957, under
the Military Construction, Army Reserve Forces appropriation. This will
provide for the construction or modification of 116 National Guard
Armories and 52 non-armory facilities, also for the construction of 126
Reserve armories and some additional summer training facilities at Army
installations.
We are emphasizing quality in the reserves by a vigorous screening
process. Although we may have some minor legislative proposals to make,
we are generally satisfied with the Reserve Forces Act of 1955. Our ob.
jective is to have a well-organized, highly-trained and effective
mobilization-ready reserve of moderate size rather than merely large
numbers of partially trained, partially equipped units and individuals.
The Army is going forward with the program that requires all enlistees to
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have six months active duty training. Since all personnel entering the
U. S. Army Reserves already is required to have this training as a minimum,
it is essential that our first line reserve forces, the National Guard,
adhere to the same standard. We are confident that unit and organizational
effectiveness of the National Guard will be greatly enhanced by such active
duty training,
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Carrying on the day to day operations of the Army involves a complex
of activities operations of tactical forces; training of personnel;
supply, repair and rebuild of equipment; maintenance, repair and upkeep of
facilities and installations; operation of hospitals and clinics; communica.
tions; and a host of other essential activities. For these activities we
are requesting $3.4 billion, an increase of $261 million, or 8 per cent,
over FY 1957.
Numerous factors account for this increase. The Civil Service Act
Amendment of 1956 requires this appropriation for the first time to con.
tribute to the Civil Service Retirement Fund. Other major increases include
transfer of responsibility from the Air Force to the Army for the Depot
maintenance of Army aircraft and Army aviation training; the full year cost
of dependent medical care; larger number of NIKE units on site; and support
of our new family housing. Also I am certain you are well aware of the
increasing complexity of our equipment which is much more expensive to
operate and maintain.
In addition, the increase points up the inescapable fact that the cost
of operating and maintaining a modern Army of a given size is increasing
steadily. We are bending every effort toward =trolling these costs,
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effecting reductions where possible, and exercising the most prudent
management that we know how.
MANAGEMENT
The Army firmly believes that good management cannot be overemphasized.
Any waste or inefficiency in the employment of money, materiel or manpower
is directly reflected in reduced combat power .- and combat power is the
root and branch of the Army's ability to carry out its historic responsi-
bilities for national security. In this field we are continuing to make
notable progress in managing our world-wide complex of commands and
facilities.
The Army Program System for organizing and outlining objectives and
work loads is currently being refined to establish a closer relationship
with the budgeting process. It will be effective in its new form with the
FY 1959 Program - Budget cycle which is just now getting started.
The Army Command Management System integrates previously separate
basic Army business managemert processes of programming, budgeting,
accounting, performance analysis, and manpower control, so that they are
fused into a -single management system. This integration assists greatly
in producing a cost...of-performance budget, which is not only a financial
forecast, but is also an operating plan of performance and costs, against
which progress can be measured and work load controlled. This system
will be completely installed throughout the Army by 1 January 1958.
The use of high speed electronic and other automatic data processing
systems and transmitting devices has been substantially increased during
the years particularly in our supply activities. One example of the use of
such transmitting devices is in the large scale test of a new supply system
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called Project MASS. Under this project the U. S. Seventh Army in Europe
is being supplied with a complete range of spare parts directly from
depots in the United States by rapid air and sea transportation. This
will materially reduce the size of the supply pipeline as well as the
quantities stocked in the forward areas.
We are impressed with the advantages of the so-called Single Manager
System which has been instituted under Directives of the Department of
Defense. Under this system, the Secretary of one military department
becomes he Single Manager for a common service or for wholesale supply of
a certain commodity to all of the military services. He receives gross
requirements from each of the services, computes net Department of Defense
requirements, and initiates procurement. He finances all wholesale stocks
from a revolving fund, and each service purchases its needs from him.
The Army has been made the Single Manager for Subsistence, Clothing
and Textiles, and Traffic Management. Since this system provides one
manager for the computation of net requirements, procurement, distribution,
inventory accounting, etc., and makes inter-service supply virtually auto-
matic, and since it provides for more effective utilization of transporta-
tion resources; it will undoubtedly result in increased effectiveness and
economies.
We are making extensive use of revolving and capital working funds.
Twenty-one Army manufacturing or service installations are currently being
financed through the Army Industrial Fund. Additional installations are
under study for inclusion during the balance of this year and FY 1958.
I am happy to report that we were able to release $110 million at the
beginning of this fiscal year from the capital reserve of this fund for
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return to the General Fund of the Treasury as excess to our actual capital
requirements.
Our system of financial inventory accounting for materiel tells us that
as of 30 September 1956 we had $19.8 billion worth of Army-owned materiel;
it tells us where it is and the general purposes for which it is being
held in the supply gystem. This knowledge provides managamen a tool for
improved supply management decisions.
The Army Stock Fund or revolving fund for financing the procurement,
stockage and distribution of common-use type of materiel now covers approx-
imately $7 billion worth of materiel, This financing system provides means
of consolidating receipts from the sale of materiel to many customer
activities in one account which in turn can be used only for the procurement
of inventories of supplies for distribution and sale to these customers,
Thus, closer control and better correlation of procurement and consumption
of materiel is achieved,
The use of the stock fund to procure, stock and distribute inventories
of materiel has facilitated the installation of Consumer Funding. Under
the principle of consumer funding, the using activity is allotted funds
to buy consumption requirements of materiel from the stock fund. Funding
the using activity in this way for materiel consumption requirements not
only permits but requires a financial decision on the part of the user
concurrent with a decision to use the supplies. This results in better
management of financial resources on the part of installation commanders.
Since the inception of the Stock Fund in 1951 the Army will have re-
turned to the Treasury or otherwise made available through FY 1957, excess
cash totalling $1.4 billion over and above the initial capitalization of
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$425 million. The FY 1958 Budget reflects a continued planned reduction
of inventories and provides for a transfer of an additional $300 million
to the Treasury or other accounts as approved by Congress. We count this
as a noteworthy achievement*.
CONCLUSION
Although we are happy with the progress which has been, made in the
past year, there is no tendency in the Army to rest on our oars. In the
next year we will continue to work toward our goal of making Army units
faster moving harder hitting and more self-sufficient. We will complete
the reorganization of our divisions into smaller, extremely mobile
liPentomic" divisions -- five...element units geared to atomic warfare, but
also fully capable of fighting non-atomic battles. At the present time
we are conducting intensive field tests of this new concept and expect to
learn a great deal that will lead to further progress.
The Army visualizes continued progress in FY 1958 -- Progress that
will make the United States Army an even greater power for peace and
deterrent to aggression*
END
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