Feasibility of Measuring the Contribution of Artificial Obstacle Systems to Force Performance : 9781249365839 : 13 Sep 2012 : This thesis focuses on the study of the contribution which artificial barriers make to the combat process. This problem area has been of particular concern in force structure analyses at the Department of the level. The U.S. has acknowledged its commitment to barrier operations by stated doctrine, significant stockpiles of barrier materials and war plans which allocate significant portions of deployed forces to the execution of barrier plans. In the environment created by reduced force levels and inflationary budgets, the high level decision maker faces the continual dilemma of deciding where to accept force reductions and how to adjust mission requirements. To be competitive in that environment the barrier mission must be assessed on the basis of its contribution to the force mission.