Abstract : The Bush Administration has been criticized for failing to successfully transition from phase III Decisive Operations to phase IV Stability Operations in Iraq. Do we have numbers of forces needed with the proper skill sets necessary for future peace operations? Can lessons in training and preparing forces for peace operations be learned from the past? This paper will explore these questions discuss proposed courses of action for new U.S. peace operations forces and review past successful peace operations using conventional U.S. forces. This discussion will hopefully assist planners and commanders with reducing risk to U.S. forces engaged in future peace operations.