Page:John Banks Wilson - Maneuver and Firepower (1998).djvu/414

9th Infantry Division "dune buggy" used in training

Under Wickham's guidance the Army specified that corps were to plan and conduct major operations, while divisions were to concentrate on the tactical battlefield. The revised Field Manual 100–5, Operations, of 1986 defined the corps as the Army’s largest tactical unit. Tailored for a particular theater and mission, the corps was to contain all combat, combat support, and combat service support required for sustained operations, In addition to various types of divisions, the corps was to have available an armored cavalry regiment; field artillery, air defense artillery, engineer, signal, aviation, and military intelligence brigades; and a military police group. Infantry and armored brigades and psychological operations, special operations forces, and civil affairs units could be attached as needed. When organized for a particular theater and mission, the corps was thus to be a relatively fixed organization with area as well as combat responsibilities. The newly defined corps was really a throwback to the beginning of the century when Field Service Regulations described a prototype corps.31

Wickham’s guidance resulted in the development of units for the "Army of Excellence."32 Within that rubric, the tables of organization and equipment called for a 10,220-man light infantry division, which comprised a headquarters and headquarters company; a military police company; signal, air defense artillery, and engineer battalions; three brigade headquarters; nine infantry battalions; division artillery; an aviation brigade; a support command; and a band. Shortly thereafier a military intelligence battalion was added and additional personnel autho-