The authors of this report seek to provide an engaging and structured narrative to clearly describe the U.S. Army's role throughout the Indo-Pacific region in the present day and into 2035. The authors present three scenarios that span from competition occurring in the present day to potential crisis and conflict in the year 2035, using an illustrated narrative to communicate the breadth and complexity of the U.S. Army's roles in the region.

The Backbone of U.S. Joint Operations

Army Roles in the Indo-Pacific

Abby Doll, Yvonne K. Crane, Gian Gentile, D. Sean Barnett, John Gordon IV, Timothy R. Heath, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Mark Hvizda, Sale Lilly, Bradley Martin, et al.

ResearchPublished May 5, 2023

The Indo-Pacific continues to evolve as an increasingly consequential region globally and for U.S. national security in the geopolitical, economic, and military spheres. Looking forward to 2035, the consequences of competition, crisis, and conflict will continue to grow, particularly as China increases its ambitions and national power. The Indo-Pacific region will continue to present a myriad of challenges through its geography and political environment, affecting the ability of the U.S. Joint Force to project power and operate within the theater. Overall, the U.S. Army offers a wide breadth of potential unique, supporting, and reinforcing contributions to address these joint military challenges. This breadth, however, can come at the cost of clarity as the U.S. Army seeks to communicate its value in the region. Thus, the authors of this report seek to provide an engaging and structured narrative to more clearly describe the U.S. Army's role throughout the region in the present day and into 2035.

To outline future Army roles, missions, and functions in the region, the authors developed three scenarios that span from competition occurring in the present day to potential crisis and conflict in the year 2035. Based on a series of tabletop exercises and workshops and a compilation of prior research, the three scenarios provide a narrative backbone — bolstered by rich visualization — to communicate the complexity and effects of the U.S. Army's foundational contributions to joint and multinational operations in the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility.

Key Findings

  • As Joint Force operational concepts become more disaggregated and conflict more rapid, the U.S. Army has a role in ensuring that the Joint Force has enduring and integrated combat power.
  • The Army's direct role in the kinetic joint fight will depend heavily on posture and the nature of the target set.
  • The Army's role in strengthening allied and partner engagement and military relationship-building is critical in countering Chinese competition and conflict capabilities.

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Doll, Abby, Yvonne K. Crane, Gian Gentile, D. Sean Barnett, John Gordon IV, Timothy R. Heath, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Mark Hvizda, Sale Lilly, Bradley Martin, David A. Ochmanek, Stephanie Anne Pillion, Barry Wilson, and Emily Yoder, The Backbone of U.S. Joint Operations: Army Roles in the Indo-Pacific. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2023. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1784-1.html.
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The research described in this report was sponsored by the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, U.S. Army and conducted by the Strategy, Doctrine, and Resources Program within the RAND Arroyo Center.

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