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'Old Army' 1898-1941: A Blueprint for the Future?
From the thesis abstract: "The U.S. Army faces a challenge of maintaining a force able to meet global commitments and in an era of shrinking budgets when no immediate peer competitor justifies a large standing army. Additionally, the focus of military strategy has shifted to the Pacific. This is not a new situation. The Army faced a similar dilemma during the period of 1898 to 1941. During this time the Army had to maintain a continuous presence in the Philippines, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the Panama Canal Zone while simultaneously mobilizing for World War I, deploying expeditions to China, Russia, and Siberia, fighting a border skirmish against Mexican bandits, conducting peace keeping operations in Cuba and maintaining stateside garrisons. In a country traditionally wary of maintaining a large standing Army, and with no direct threat to justify having one, this required the Army of the period to have several characteristics: It had to be relatively small, but able to expand rapidly through the use of reserves; it had to be highly selective, professional and well trained to accomplish much with a small force, as well as provide a skilled cadre for mobilization; finally, it had to rely on native soldiers overseas to expand its capabilities and to augment its forces. These same characteristics and competencies may serve as an effective blueprint for guiding current reform initiatives as the Army transitions to meet contemporary security challenges."
Army War College (U.S.)
Reed, Christopher D.
2012-03-19
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New Paradigm for Defense Rapid Acquisition
From the thesis abstract: "The experience of the U.S. military over the last ten years has shown that adversaries are rapidly adapting new technologies and tactics, techniques, and procedures to counter U.S. battlefield supremacy. This volatile and uncertain environment greatly increases the risk to U.S. military personnel as they fulfill critical mission requirements. The Department of Defense has created over 20 ad hoc offices, each with their own unique practices and procedures, to rapidly fulfill urgent battlefield needs that have arisen due to this established trend. The author proposes that most of the current 20 ad hoc offices be federated together into a single rapid acquisition office, the Office of Rapid and Critical Acquisition (ORCA). ORCA would utilize standardized acquisition practices for rapid fielding initiatives and ensure the long-term sustainability of this critical capability."
Army War College (U.S.)
Vinch, Peter M.
2012-03-12
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Measuring the Effectiveness of the CONUS Air and Missile Defense C2 System
From the thesis abstract: "The air and missile threat posed by hostile states and terrorist organizations to the continental United States is a reality. The United States has established organizations and developed capable AMD [Air and Missile Defense] weapon systems to defeat these types of threats. However, an effective C2 system is essential in order to integrate these technologically advanced AMD weapon systems into an efficient fighting force. This thesis quantitatively measured the effectiveness of the CONUS [Contiguous United States or Continental United States] AMD C2 system by analyzing the performance of five objective variables: people/authorities, facilities, communications equipment, unity of command/effort, and levels of control. This analysis successfully produced a numerical effectiveness result, but more importantly it identified five deficiencies in which the CONUS AMD C2 system effectiveness can be improved. The research concluded by shaping three overall recommendations to improve system effectiveness: delegate the doctrinal responsibilities to the RADC/SADC [Regional Air Defense Commander/Sector Air Defense Commander], lower the engagement authority, and establish a redundant common operating picture."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Lape, Neal J.
2012-06-08
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New Wild West: Military Support in Border Security Operations
From the thesis abstract: "Since 2006, more than 30,000 Mexican citizens have died in drug-related violence. With the threat of this violence escalating and spilling across the border into the United States, it is necessary to employ the full range of assets and options available for the U.S. government to defeat or neutralize a growing national security threat to the safety and sovereignty of the United States. The Department of Defense possesses equipment and personnel with critical skills necessary to augment civil authorities' efforts to secure the U.S. border with Mexico. In this thesis, the researcher seeks to answer the questions of what role the Department of Defense should play in securing America's borders and which assets are best suited to Defense Support to Civil Authorities in border security operations."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Power, Paul A.
2012-06-08
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What is the Extent of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Where Does It Derive Its Strength in the Sahelian-Saharan Region: A Case Study of Northern Mali
From the thesis abstract: "What Is The Extent of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Where Does It Derive Its Strength in the Sahelian-Saharan Region: A Case Study of Northern Mali, by MJR Mohamed Al Moustapha Touré, 131 pages. While Algeria was facing internal security issues with illegal Islamist armed groups in the 1990s, some Sahelian-Saharan states were reducing their institutional presence in their border region with Algeria. Mali was demilitarizing its northern region in application of the peace agreement with the Arab-Tuareg rebellion, opening a large corridor to all kinds of smugglings and illegal activities. The Author used the RAND study's variable of ungovernability and conduciveness to analyze AQIM [Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb] in northern Mali. The importance of kinship relationship in Somalia supported the emergence of a new variable called 'Fortified Relationships'. The objective of the study was to use the RAND's variables to do an analysis of AQIM's center of gravity. The conduciveness variables constitute AQIM's center of gravity critical capabilities and 'Fortified Relationships' constitute its critical vulnerabilities. This emergent variable of 'Fortified Relationships' seems to be a critical factor, at least in an African context, and warrants further study."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Toure, Mohamed Al Moustapha
2012-06-08
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Alternative Disaster Feeding Ration
From the thesis abstract: "FEMA and USAID [United States Agency for International Development] could more efficiently provide feeding rations during Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Relief (HA/DRs) operations by using high calorie survival bars in lieu of MREs and HDRs while saving time, money, and resources. The Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) primarily use Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) and Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) for foreign and domestic humanitarian disaster response operations. Rations currently used are costly and logistically challenging to manage. MREs possess twice the shelf life and size as HDRs, but also double costs and bring cultural concerns. An alternative solution is the nutritionally balanced, condensed survival ration bars that have a longer shelf life and are inexpensive. There are potential issues with public image or relations with each ration type: MREs are not vegetarian; HDRs are religiously sensitive; and high calorie bars appear minimalistic implying lack of compassion. Each ration should also be assessed against the principles of sustainment as directed in FM 4-0. This thesis will assess logistical implications, both negative and positive, of using the survival ration bars in lieu of MREs and HDRs during disaster relief operations led by USAID and FEMA."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Rollinson, George William
2012-06-08
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Iranian Government's Ambitions Represented in Their Nuclear Weapons Program and Its Impact on Security in the Arab Gulf Region
From the thesis abstract: "In the past decade, it has become apparent that the Iranian Government is not willing to give up its Nuclear Fuel Program. Though it claims that its endeavors are merely the pursuit of making nuclear fuel, the threat of an unsupervised Iranian Nuclear Program brings great worry to the security of other Arab States in the Region. In a larger context, as the Iranian Nuclear Program grows, how does it impact the International Security Environment and what responses will it bring from other key actors (NATO, the EU, and the US)? This thesis will examine various aspects of the Iranian Government's Nuclear Program. It will measure the political and economic impacts of the Iranian Nuclear Program, and the security impacts on other states in the Arab Gulf Region and the global energy. Finally, this thesis will explore possible Iranian nuclear ambitions and the implications of these ambitions on the International Security Environment."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Abukshiem, Feisal
2012-01
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Most Appropriate National Level Organizational Structure and Command and Control System for U.S. Customs and Border Protection
"The establishment of CBP [Customs and Border Protection] on March 1, 2003 created the world's largest law enforcement agency encompassing several large, complex and diverse organizations from three separate Departments of the United States Government. Since its formation, CBP's national level headquarters has lacked an applicable organizational structure and an effective command and control (C2) system with its field offices to effectively and efficiently accomplish its mission of securing our Nation's borders and facilitating legitimate trade and travel. This paper examines CBP's current national level organizational and C2 problems and identifies its appropriate organizational design and C2 system. In order to determine the appropriate design and C2 system, a qualitative study was conducted using a narrative approach assisted by documentation review and content analysis of official United States Army manuals, Joint Publications, and existing reference material and websites pertaining to organizational structure and organizational theory. By reorganizing its national level headquarters using a multidivisional structure and adopting a 'centralized command and de-centralized execution' C2 system, CBP will have greater efficacy and achieve a greater unity of effort among its components."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Pocorobba, Thomas Jr.,
2012-06-08
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Study of the Military Intelligence Support to Domestic Law Enforcement in Counterdrug and Counterterrorism Operations
From the thesis abstract: "The purpose of the study will address the legal restrictions placed on Title-10 military intelligence support to civilian authorities within the United States conducting counterdrug and counterterrorism operations. The National Defense Strategy calls for the Department of Defense (DoD) to protect the homeland from terrorist attack and to provide support to the civilian interagency in response to natural or man-made disasters. Annual DoD congressional authorizations allow DoD to support drug interdiction efforts, while DoD Joint doctrine states that drug trafficking and terrorism are closely linked. The main issue is DoD's reluctance to fulfill this directive, due to the self-imposed limitations on military intelligence, so that it cannot provide much support to law enforcement within the United States. This creates a problem for DoD in how to make use of its intelligence capacity to fulfill the homeland defense directive when DoD restricts itself from providing intelligence support. The problem from the law enforcement and interagency perspectives is their lack of internal intelligence capacity to adequately protect the homeland. Military intelligence can solve the law enforcement intelligence shortfall issue. If DoD understands that it is legal for them to do so and updates its regulations accordingly, then DoD will benefit as well. Research for this topic conducted from August of 2008 thru June of 2011."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Authier, André A.
2012-06-08
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Social Media and the Arab Spring: How Facebook, Twitter, and Camera Phones Changed the Egyptian Army's Response to Revolution
From the thesis abstract: "How should militaries think about social media as a factor in military operations? In this study I examine recent Arab Spring scholarship, with a particular focus on the significant impact of social media on events in Egypt in early 2011. Existing literature in this area centers on the ability of various social media platforms to unite and inspire population masses, yet does not address the important effect of social media on military forces responding to the revolution. This gap is exemplified by the general reluctance of military practitioners to engage scholars with actual evidence from real-world events during times of conflict. In response to these challenges, I offer the unique oral history of an Egyptian company commander who led soldiers in Cairo's Tahrir Square throughout several months of intensive security operations during the Arab Spring. Through this descriptive study, I find that the prevalence of social media considerably affected the Egyptian Army's response to the massive popular uprising. To evaluate these findings, I propose a 'social media update' to Gene Sharp's mechanisms of nonviolent change, analyzing the Egyptian Army's counterintuitive approach to the events of 2011 in light of an updated Sharp framework. I conclude that the Egyptian Army's experiences provide a tremendously useful example of how militaries may think about social media as a factor in military operations. Finally, I argue that a written account of the Egyptian Army's response to social media is exactly the type of 'policy-relevant scholarship' military practitioners must be willing to produce in order to inform U.S. policy in a truly meaningful way."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Barnsby, Robert E.
2012-06-08
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United States Army Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Corps Capability for Combating the Contemporary Weapons of Mass Destruction Threat
From the thesis abstract: "The threat of a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) attack against the United States is more significant then ever. The United States Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) corps is designed to deal with the results of this attack; however the focus of the CBRN corps has shifted from the passive defense (reactive) posture to the active defense (proactive) posture. A key mission in the conduct of active CBRN defense is the WMD elimination mission. This study examines the United States Army CBRN corps doctrine, organization, and material in order to conduct the WMD elimination mission."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Kelly, Matthew F.
2012-06-08
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Ending the Military's Counternarcotics Mission
From the thesis abstract: "Since 1989, DoD has spent billions of dollars combating the illicit drug trade, with little to show for it. There are several possible reasons for the low return on investment of the US military's counternarcotics efforts. One reason for this apparent failure is that the armed forces are not appropriately trained to combat criminals and criminal organizations. Another reason is that focusing on the supply side of the problem by combating the narcotics production and trafficking has proven ineffective over the decades DoD has been engaged in the effort. A third reason for the apparent failure of the military's counternarcotics program is a lack of viable metrics. Finally, a far more controversial reason relates to the nature of the illicit drug problem. If illegal drugs and the narcotics production and trafficking organizations are actually social welfare and law enforcement challenges, rather than threats to national security, the military is arguably the wrong tool to counter them."
Army War College (U.S.)
Wald, Beth S.
2012-04-03
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Study of Applying the Atmospheric Release Advisory Capability to Nuclear Power Plants
From the thesis project proposal: "Each utility licensee for a nuclear power reactor is required to minimize the adverse effects from an accidental radionuclide release into the atmosphere. In the past the ability to forecast quantitatively the extent of the hazard from such a release has been limited. Now powerful atmospheric modeling techniques are available to assist nuclear reactor site officials with greatly improved assessments. [...] The purpose of this project is to examine the ways and means of adapting ARAC [Atmospheric Release Advisory Capability] for application to many nuclear power reactors widely dispersed across the nation. The project will emphasise the management aspects, including government-industry relationships, technology transfer, organizational structure, staffing, implementing procedures and costs. Benefits and costs for several alternative systems will be compared. The following questions will be addressed: 1. Can ARAC technology developed at LLL [Lawrence Livermore Laboratory] be successfully transferred for broad application to the nuclear power industry? 2. Who should operate the ARAC central facility? ?. 3. What organization and staffing is needed for a fully operating central facility? 4. What is required to establish ARAC at a utility site? 5. What are the costs and benefits associated with the several ARAC options to service a large number of nuclear power plants?"
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Orphan, Richard C.
1978-06-05
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'Strategic Corporal,' 2025: Operationalizing Small-Unit Leaders for Theater-Level Operations
From the thesis abstract: "In the future, the Marine Corps will retain its core competencies delineated under Title X, U.S. Code, which provide America with an expeditionary force in readiness. It must remain the force that is 'the most ready when the nation is the least ready.' That being said, the 2006 National Security Strategy and Quadrennial Defense Review emphasize the conduct of activities that foster relationships among U.S. friends and partners, and create conditions inhospitable to terrorism and rogue regimes. Despite the establishment of the Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and its Marine Special Operations Advisory Group in 2006, the Marine Corps can and must do more to strengthen its capability to reinforce the U.S. Special Operations Command's (USSOCOM) ability to build partner capacity through security cooperation (SC), security assistance (SA), and FID [Foreign Internal Defense] missions. The Corps must develop a comprehensive plan to train, equip, and resource its small-unit leaders' abilities to actively participate in specific SC/SA/FID missions in the future. By selecting qualified company grade and noncommissioned officers, equipping them with advanced technologies, cultural awareness training, adequate operational authority, and real-time subject-matter expertise reach back, the Marine Corps has the ability to significantly enhance the Nation's ability to conduct SC/SA/FID missions."
Marine Corps Command and Staff College (U.S.)
Morris, Jason L.
2008
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Future of Marine Civil Affairs
From the thesis abstract: "The Marine Corps' role in fighting the global war on terrorism involves the extensive conduct of civil military operations (CMO). However, current shortfalls in the Corps' approach to Civil Affairs (CA) force structure and to CMO education, training, and employment impede its ability to use these operations to their greatest effect. The author proposes solutions to these shortfalls which would result in the establishment of a cadre of active duty civil affairs Marines, the implementation of a formal training program for CA personnel, the integration of CMO into the Marine Corps' resident schools and the use of planning procedures that focus on CMO as a line of operation. US military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa involve extensive interaction with the local populations. Reports from the field emphasize the importance of civil military operations in obtaining operational goals. Shortfalls and recommended solutions are discussed under the headings of Structure, Training, Education and Employment."
Marine Corps University (U.S.). School of Advanced Warfighting
Milburn, Andrew R.
2006-04-03
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Partnership for Peace: What's Next for NATO?
From the thesis abstract: "The Partnership for Peace (PFP) is a significant step forward in solving a dilemma that NATO has been struggling with since the end of the Cold War. That dilemma has been whether to expand or not. It appears the Alliance has accepted, in principle, that PFP will lead to NATO expansion. However, it is still unclear exactly how and when the expansion will take place. Even more unclear is who will be accepted as a member, and who will not. The five objectives of PFP are as follows: (1) facilitation of transparency in national defense planning and budgeting processes; (2) ensuring democratic control of defense forces; (3) maintenance of the capability and readiness to contribute, subject to constitutional considerations, to operations under the authority of the United Nations and/or the responsibility of the CSCE [Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe]; (4) the development of cooperative military relations with NATO for the purpose of joint planning, training, and exercises to strengthen their ability to undertake missions in the fields of peacekeeping, search and rescue, humanitarian operations, and others as may be agreed upon; and (5) the development, over the long term, of forces that are better able to operate with those of the members of the North Atlantic Alliance. This essay looks at the future of NATO, now that it has endorsed PFP, and discusses how it must adjust to the changing conditions throughout Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The essay examines how NATO has changed since the Cold War; analyzes the specifics of the PFP Framework Document; reviews the advantages and disadvantages of PFP; provides suggestions on how the Alliance should implement PFP, including clear criteria for PFP members who want to join NATO and timelines for doing so; proposes a blueprint for the United States' role in an orderly and meaningful expansion of NATO; and discusses how extending NATO membership to Eastern Europe could affect the placement of U.S. soldiers in Europe and U.S. military strategy."
National War College (U.S.)
Hayes, Timothy W.
1994
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Performance-Based Logistics
From the thesis abstract: "This paper reviews the Executive Branch's support for the transformation of logistics. It analyzes the guidance of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition Technology and Logistics concerning the implementation of performance-based logistics (PBL). It describes the process for implementing PBL assesses PBL's capability to improve and sustain weapon systems readiness and notes the military services concepts for implementing PBL. It describes relationships pertaining to PBL among military services defense activities industrial bases suppliers and manufacturers. Finally it describes how the Defense Logistics Agency plans to implement PBL and speculates on PBL's impact on the services."
Army War College (U.S.)
Claiborne, Bobby L.
2004-03-19
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Terrorism and the Communication Utilities: A National Security Concern?
From the thesis abstract: "Increasing international terrorist incidents, with Americans as the focal point, and the seemingly changing image of the Soviet Union could create an atmosphere conducive to domestic terrorism within the United States. This paper will explore the potential capabilities of terrorist groups. Then it will examine three past communication disasters in an attempt to determine if terrorism is a domestic threat, or specifically if the loss of a major communication facility is a threat to national security. Each disaster happened independently of the others. This study takes the results of these accidents and postulates the effects of similar levels of damage caused by a concerted terrorist action. Analysis of pre- and post responses provides a foundation for recommendations for dealing with terrorist threat."
Army War College (U.S.)
Green, Linwood G., Jr.
1989-02-23
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Train Our Pilots
From the thesis abstract: "Marine heavy helicopter squadron commanding officers receive no training and have little incentive to maintain their aircraft for future generations of Marine aviation. A Squadron Commander's operational success vice the material condition of his aircraft is the general metric by which his performance is reviewed. Operational readiness and material condition, while often linked, are not equivalent. In addition, the brevity of a Squadron Commander's tour evokes no incentive for him to maintain the long-term health of his aircraft. The data systems used to track and record aviation maintenance are complex, and there is currently no requirement for a commanding officer to learn these systems or how they can be fouled. Without an understanding of how the data are generated and what the common errors in interpretation are, the commander cannot make an accurate assessment of his maintenance department's performance. As the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) continues to draw operational commitments, senior leaders are placing more pressure on squadron commanding officers to achieve the mission. To balance preservation of the Marine Corps' heavy lift helicopters against mission accomplishment, Marine pilots who are responsible for the work in their maintenance departments need training in maintenance and maintenance data systems. This training would educate the younger pilots, who have a vested interest in the longevity of the aircraft, on how to evaluate their maintenance department's performance. Training the Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Quality Assurance Officer will lead to an improvement in the material condition of the aircraft because it will train them to understand and interpret where their squadron is falling short according to data generated within the maintenance department."
Marine Corps Combat Development Command
McLearen, W. R.
2006-02
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Determining a Relationship Between Foreign News Media Reports Covering U.S. Military Events and Network Incidents Against DoD Networks
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis explores the nature of the relationship between foreign news media and network incidents against DoD networks. A rank correlation was performed between the number of network incidents against DoD networks and foreign news media reports covering U.S. Military events. Further analysis was conducted to determine the key terms used in the contents of foreign news media reports for the months the reports were significantly correlated with network incidents. Several significant correlations were found between various combinations of regions and categories of network incidents. However, the correlations were only moderate and the key terms only led to a slightly better understanding of such relationships."
Air Force Institute of Technology (U.S.). Graduate School of Engineering and Management
Jaros, Jason D.
2005-03
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Korean Spring? An Analysis of the Arab Spring and Its Relevance for North Korea
From the thesis abstract: "In December 2010, spontaneous protests began in Tunisia following the self-immolation of a Tunisian citizen, who was upset after having his vegetable cart seized by Tunisian police. Wide spread demonstrations followed in the capital city of Tunis. Quickly the protests and demonstrations spread to Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and Syria. The series of uprisings came to be known as the 'Arab Spring.' The civil uprisings resulted in the downfall of autocratic leaders throughout the Middle East and North Africa. On the other side of the globe, North Korea has taken notice of the Arab Spring. North Korea is undergoing a transition following the death of Kim Jong II. This research thesis analyzed the conditions that existed during the Arab Spring in Egypt, Libya and Syria and applies that analysis to North Korea to determine the possibility of a 'Korean Spring' revolution."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Toolan, Brendan
2012-06-08
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Democratic Security and Defense Policy: A Successful Counterinsurgency Model
From the thesis abstract: "The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) reached its highest point in military capabilities by 1998. In 2002, this insurgent group was a threat to the Colombian political system. The government of Alvaro Uribe designed and implemented the Democratic Security and Defense Policy (DSDP). After eight years of application, the DSDP was successful in reducing the FARC political and military capabilities to a point where today, the FARC is still a threat to the country's security, but its chances of changing the political system has disappeared. Two aspects made the policy successful: first, the design of the DSDP, which adapted different Counterinsurgency (COIN) principles to the Colombian environment; and second, the implementation of the DSDP, which includes the unique leadership style of Uribe, the creation of an interagency organization, the development of special operations capabilities, the periodic publicity of statistics and achievements, and the long-term application. The policy had some downsides as well; which when analyzed with the above factors valuable lessons are offered which can contribute to improving the ongoing COIN strategy in Colombia. Furthermore, it can serve as a base model for implementation in other regions of the world."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Mateus, Juvenal Diaz
2012-06-08
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Defeating Mexico's Drug Trafficking Organizations: The Range of Military Operations in Mexico
From the thesis abstract: "Drug Trafficking Organizations within Mexico have become a challenge to the state and are affecting both Mexican and U.S. citizens within the U.S. and Mexico border region. As the situation continues to spiral out of control, the U.S. military, with approval of the Mexican government, may need to conduct operations within Northern Mexico to defeat drug trafficking organizations and stabilize the region. As the full range of military operations have been conducted within Afghanistan, this study explores those military operations and their applicability to defeating drug trafficking organizations within Northern Mexico. Through operational design, the primary conclusion drawn is that there is no single military operation that should be conducted. Rather, the U.S. military operations that can be employed to defeat drug trafficking organizations and stabilize Northern Mexico are a combination of security cooperation, limited contingency operations, and major operations."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Wade, Mark J.
2012-06-08
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How Will Emerging Aerial Surveillance and Detection Technology Contribute to the Mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
From the thesis abstract: "As the United States (U.S) establishes better control of the border, traffickers and smugglers continue to develop advanced methods and employ new tactics to counter enforcement technology. Investigating how emerging technologies in aerial surveillance and detection (AS&D) might be applied to border security and the potential implications of fielding such technology by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will provide a foundation for countering this evolving threat. This thesis examines possible contributions of such technology to the mission of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Reyes, Rafael Jr.,
2012-06-08
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Law of Force or the Force of Law: Does Following the Rule of Law Assist Security Forces in Defeating an Armed Insurgency
From the thesis abstract: "Does following the rule of law assist security forces in defeating an armed insurgency? If so, what factors assist or prevent security forces from conducting operations in accordance with rule of law principles? Counterinsurgency literature and U.S. Army doctrine favor a population-centric approach to counterinsurgency, of which the primary objective is controlling the population. Both insurgent and counterinsurgent have two instruments in the struggle for control and support of the populace: a credible power to coerce and popular perceptions of legitimacy. I examine the theoretical basis of counterinsurgency and the rule of law, and find that adherence to the rule of law is a major factor supporting these two instruments. Thus, I conclude that following the rule of law assists security forces in defeating an armed insurgency. Given this conclusion, it follows intuitively that foreign and host nation security forces conducting counterinsurgency operations would conduct operations in accordance with the rule of law. Yet, we know empirically that security forces often do not. I identify several hidden causal factors act that influence security forces to conduct operations that both support and conflict with rule of law principles. I describe these factors and categorize them by causal logic, e.g., institutional, structural, ideational, and psychological. My findings imply that security forces must follow the rule of law and that commanders must consider these complex causal influences during the planning and conduct of operations in order to better conduct counterinsurgency operations."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Ranieri, Steven M.
2012-06-08
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Intelligence Collection: Supporting Full Spectrum Dominance and Network Centric Warfare?
From the thesis abstract: "This monograph examines whether the Army's information collection efforts are supporting the goal of full spectrum dominance and whether these are in harmony with the concepts of network centric warfare. Full spectrum dominance and network centric warfare are central themes in Department of Defense and Army transformation literature and both require information collection and an understanding of the role of cognition empowered by networking for success. More specifically, it examines whether Army collection efforts are focusing too heavily on collection for combat operations and leaving it unable to fully exploit the access to adversary systems during stability operations. This study found that the institutional Army is not fully supporting the goal of full spectrum dominance or network centric warfare but is still myopically investing heavily in efforts to defeat the adversary's conventional capabilities with standoff collection technology and is not creating the organizational, systems and technical architectures necessary to leverage the power of a fully networked force."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies
Moses, Bruce D.
2004-03-26
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Cutting the Army's Umbilical Cord: A Study of Emerging Fuel Technologies and their Impact on National Security
From the thesis abstract: "The U.S. dependence on foreign oil is a national security concern. The Department of Defense is the largest federal government consumer of oil and the Army plays a significant role in reducing consumption. To do this, the Army must reduce fuel consumption at U.S. installations but most importantly, at deployed locations. Improving the efficiency and decreasing consumption of sustainment platforms, the largest battlefield consumers of fuel, became an Army priority during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. This new focus on emerging fuel technologies has the potential to decrease the logistical requirements in theater, reduce the budget outlays for fuel, and reduce risk for soldiers. In order to validate these claims, this monograph analyzes three case studies. The three emerging fuel technologies evaluated are microgrids, solar and wind power generators, and hybrid-electric tactical wheeled vehicles. The method used in the case studies is to replace an inefficient existing technology with the new one and calculate fuel savings, cost savings, risk reduction, and casualty reduction. The data collected from the analysis of these case studies draw some eye opening conclusions. Most significant is the number of tankers removed from the roads in one-year, which approaches 3,000, corresponding to close to 6,000 soldiers no longer needed in theater to deliver fuel. This decrease of soldiers leads to four soldiers who might have avoided death, in Iraq in 2007. Because of these findings, this monograph asserts that the Army use an enterprise approach at developing and implementing emerging fuel technologies in order to decrease fuel cost and risk to soldiers."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies
Price, Matthew A.
2011-07-15
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Achieving Homeland Security in a Time of Diminishing Resources
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis endeavored to determine if the current organization of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) best achieves homeland security in a time of diminishing resources. The growing threat to national security posed by the burgeoning federal debt has resulted in budget cuts across all government agencies. The forecasted budget reductions provide increased motivation to ensure the highest benefit is received from the resources allocated. The goal of this study was to identify the areas in which the current organization of DoD and DHS did not best achieve the four goals of homeland security as outlined in the 'National Strategy for Homeland Security'. The results indicated that the current organization of DoD and DHS, with respect to homeland security, does not best achieve homeland security in a time of diminishing resources."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Woodward, Jason T.
2012-06-08
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Motorcade Showdown
From the Thesis Abstract: "Motorcade Showdown is a wargame modeling motorcade operations in order to teach the fundamentals of the protection and disruption of motorcade movements. In this game, players can experience motorcade operations from the perspective of both the protection cell and also the disruption cell. It exercises the players' ability to make accurate decisions to facilitate delivering the principal safely to the venue, and aids in learning the cause and effect relationship of planning routes incorrectly, failing to anticipate potential threats, and reacting inappropriately to obstacles or dangers. It enhances an individual's critical decision-making abilities concerning basic motorcade skills, and understanding of adversary operations, in order to prevent incorrect choices during the conduct of motorcade operations."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Miller, William L.
2019-06-14
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Supporting and Enabling: Air-Land Cross-Domain Lessons from Major Conflicts
From the Thesis Abstract: "Current and forthcoming US military concepts stress the need for integrating and synchronizing effects across all domains to achieve cross-domain synergy. This thesis examines three case studies to determine the effectiveness and means by which militaries synchronized airpower and land power during large-scale combat between peer competitors. Since the American and British experiences in World War II and Desert Storm are already well researched in US academia, research focused on Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II as well as the Israeli Defense Forces in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. For each case study, the author presents the operational theory underpinning the studied military's conduct, a background of the campaign, a conclusion regarding overall effectiveness, and a thorough discussion of the command and control mechanisms used. The final chapter puts forth six distinct lessons the US should consider when developing systems and perceptions for Multi-Domain or All-Domain Operations."
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
Brady, E. Aaron
2019-06-14
