Which policy was designed to reduce American combat involvement by shifting responsibility to South Vietnamese forces?

• A. Vietnamization
• B. Detente
• C. Pacification
• D. Escalation

Answer: (A)

Vietnamization is the approach that aims to reduce American combat involvement by transferring the fighting burden to South Vietnamese forces. Initiated under President Nixon, it focused on building up and expanding the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) so they could take over more of the combat role, while the United States pulled back its troops and shifted to providing training, air support, and matériel. This policy wanted to maintain pressure against the enemy without large-scale American ground deployments, moving the responsibility for frontline fighting onto South Vietnamese forces.

Detente is about easing tensions with other great powers, not specifically about shifting military duties in Vietnam. Pacification emphasizes gaining the support and security of the rural population, which is related but not the primary mechanism for reducing American combat involvement. Escalation means increasing U.S. military involvement, the opposite of what this policy seeks.