CLOSING THE DOOR BEHIND YOU: HOW THE UNITED STATES ARMY CONDUCTS LOGISTICAL WITHDRAWALS AFTER LENGTHY OPERATIONS

Through experience gained in the withdrawals from Vietnam and Iraq, the United States Army has developed a system of redeployment that can guide future withdrawals from large scale, lengthy overseas contingency operations. The elements of this system include establishing property accountability, echeloning of sustainment support, and reconstituting the force. This study compares Army operations during the withdrawal from the Vietnam War and from Iraq at the conclusion of OPERATIONS IRAQI FRFEEDOM and NEW DAWN. It argues that planning for the withdrawal of forces is a critical component of operational planning and must be viewed as the final act of any campaign.