Evaluating Cost-alignment Alternatives in Support of a Coast Guard Arctic Strategy

• Main Author: Glander, Michael W
• Other Authors: ARMY WAR COLLEGE CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Government and Political Science; Military Operations; Strategy and Tactics; *ARCTIC REGIONS; *COAST GUARD OPERATIONS; *DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE; ACCOUNTABILITY; CHINA; COST ANALYSIS; CRUDE OIL; ENERGY; INVESTMENTS; PETROLEUM PRODUCTS; RUSSIA; STRATEGY; TRUST FUNDS; COAST GUARD ARCTIC STRATEGY; Arctic; Arctic Ocean
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA589321; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA589321

The Arctic Ocean is warming, creating challenges and opportunities for the United States in this strategically important region. U.S. policymakers have charged the interagency community to assess and prepare. The Department of Defense (DoD) has determined that its current strategic posture in the Arctic is adequate. It is wary about investing more resources in the Arctic through the midterm (2020-2030). The U.S. Coast Guard is already increasing its Arctic operations as human activity increases there. Presently, increased Coast Guard Arctic operations are being driven by offshore oil development. These operations require the Coast Guard to shift resources from other priorities and risks elsewhere in the maritime domain. This paper recommends improved alignment between the costs and benefits of future Coast Guard Arctic operations. It evaluates alternative funding options for policymakers to consider in support of a Coast Guard Arctic Strategy, recommending one for further exploration. It concludes that better cost-alignment would strengthen the Strategy; further, it could accelerate the development of an Arctic maritime infrastructure, which may serve as a prudent hedge to DoD s own conservative Arctic investment strategy.