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• Assessment Model for Foreign Military Relationships: US and Mexican Armies

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  From the Monograph Abstract: "From strategic guidance to Army doctrine, relationships are the central component to foreign alliances and partnerships that maintain US security. The US Army emphasizes relationships through Security Cooperation (SC), seeking a committed security partnership. This desired commitment is especially critical in a complex political environment. How then, is the status of a relationship measured to determine its ability to withstand the countering effects of today's politically complex environment? This study proposes to define organizational relationships and create a common lexicon by which practitioners can more accurately communicate trends. As a result, direct assessments can diagnose hidden problems surrounding the SC effort and SC relationships can be directly analyzed. The methodology used is an historical analysis of the US-Mexico political timeline to determine points of military relationship development and sustainment. The analysis reveals three categories of relationships that build enduring commitments: cooperative, interpersonal, and interoperable. At the operational level, increased understanding equips commanders for more informed decision making when determining the allocation of limited government assets."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Pizano, Marcos E.

  2019-05-23
• Stepping into the Fog: A Comparative Analysis of Israel Conducting Joint Forcible Entry Operations in the Middle East

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  From the Abstract: "The United States has engaged in conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan for over fifteen years; during this time US adversaries have learned that they cannot compete with the US military in conventional means. Thus, adversaries have developed their strategies and tactics into hybrid warfare. The characteristics of the battlefield have drastically changed in the last several decades and now begs the question as to whether the planning considerations for a Joint Forcible Entry (JFE) look differently on a modern battlefield with a hybrid threat? The ongoing conflicts between Israel and the various Arab state and non-state actors in the Middle East show examples of what planning considerations would look like for conducting a JFE into a complex environment contested by a hybrid threat. By examining Israeli operations in the 2006 Second Lebanon War, Operation Cast Lead, and Operation Protective Edge this project will identify key planning considerations that determine relative success or failures for forcible entry operations contested by a hybrid threat."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Larpenteur, Jared C.

  2019-05-23
• From the Andes to the Hindu Kush: Colombian Airpower Lessons for Afghanistan

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  From the thesis abstract: "Airpower is an asymmetric means for the application of government counterinsurgent force against enemies of the state. The high cost of investment in aircraft and the high technology training of maintainers and aircrew make a viable air force a challenge beyond the reach of many economically struggling countries. The United States Government has provided aid to regional and global host nations when the national security interests of both the United States and the host nation aligned. Theory and lessons learned from 100 years of airpower against insurgents aided the development of doctrine. Real-world experience in the building of the Colombian Air Force to fight insurgent and terrorist groups provides insight into the aircraft, personnel, financial and time commitments required to enable host nation success. This monograph compares the provisional plan for the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) to theory, doctrine, and the Colombian experience. The plan for the ANAAC is generally on the correct trajectory. Recommendations center on purposeful training and equipping of the ANAAC for an internally focused, counterinsurgency force."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Maher, William J.

  2010-05-20
• Toward Greater Understanding: The 'Jihadist' Ideology of 'Al Qaeda'

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  From the thesis abstract: "Osama bin Laden and Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri enticed tens of thousands of Muslims from around the world to travel to Afghanistan, swear allegiance to bin Laden and the cause of 'Al Qaeda', fight and even die for that cause. Bin Laden united faithful Muslims under his ideological banner by making relevant the historical context of authentic Islam and promoting 'jihad' not only as a religious obligation, but a legally sanctioned and moral responsibility of every good and true Muslim. This monograph explains 'Al Qaeda's' narrative as a 'jihadist' organization that currently poses the greatest threat to United States and Western interests around the world. The first section offers an explanation of terms that people commonly use to describe an enemy they may not fully understand - these terms include fundamentalist, extremist, 'Salafi' and 'jihadi'. The next section provides a historical overview of the threat the United States faces in Afghanistan today. After explaining the roots of 'Al Qaeda' in Afghanistan, the paper details the organization's ideology and goals as well as the historical basis for this ideology, reaching back to the Prophet Muhammad and the origins of Islam. The paper argues that in order to defeat bin Laden and 'Al Qaeda', it is necessary to understand the roots of 'Al Qaeda's' Islamic narrative and the environmental context that allowed these concepts to gain such a following. By understanding the true nature of the threat, United States political and military leaders will be better able to formulate plans and develop operations that counter the effectiveness of 'Al Qaeda's' messages and provide alternatives for those currently engaged in 'jihad' against America."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  McPhillips, Patricia E.

  2010-04-15
• Modern Salafi Warrior: Inviting and Striving Towards a Nostalgic Future

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  From the Thesis Abstract: "This paper addresses the modern Salafist warrior with an emphasis on identifying and understanding the wellspring of ideological inspiration informing subsequent actions. This project is concerned with lens construction enabling further analysis and charts the development of Islamic jurisprudence from its inception on the pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula through the establishment of Sunni Islam's four orthodox legal schools. From there it places shari'ah reasoning in context and extracts an Islamic just war theory. The lens is further refined and focused through a discussion of key battles in the Qur'an. The suitability of the lens is tested against three well-known and authoritative Salafist publications. The purpose is to provide an analytical tool enabling further study. Additional Salafist sources are offered for supplementary analytical iterations using, or adjusting, the constructed lens."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Euhus, Brandon Thomas

  2017-02-10
• Operational Art in a War of Limited Aims: General Robert Cushman Jr. In I Corps Tactical Zone, 1967-1969

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  From the Thesis Abstract: "The following paper examines General Cushman's operational art as the commanding general of III Marine Amphibious Force (MAF), June 1967-March 1969, to understand how a commander negotiated the challenges of aligning ends, ways, and means and mitigated risk in a war of limited aims. Although General Cushman preceded the formal adoption of operational art into US military doctrine, his approach to the challenges facing III MAF provide an example of operational art incorporating full spectrum operations in a complex environment across the depth and breadth of a large territory. After briefly framing the arguments with a discussion of operational art, this paper examines the strategic context of III MAF operations, General Cushman's understanding of the operating environment, and General Cushman's operational approach to demonstrate how General Cushman integrated ends, ways, and means and mitigated risk to organize and employ III MAF."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Tenold, Bryceson K.

  2018-04-09
• Evolution of Restricted Provisioning of Foreign Development Assistance

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  From the Monograph Abstract: "The delivery of foreign development assistance is a component of the US government's diplomatic instrument of national power. As such, it would seem prudent to enable flexibility in the provision of foreign assistance to accommodate political changes in the domestic, international, and beneficiary country environments. However, as this paper demonstrates, the implementation of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, an amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act, and the terrorist attacks in September 2001 culminated in greatly restricting flexibility in the delivery of foreign development assistance."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Balko, Douglas W.

  2018-05-24
• Prachanda Path and �"glaigh na hÉireann: A Comparative Case Study of the Insurgencies in Nepal and Northern Ireland

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  From the thesis abstract: Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terrorism have raised the interest of the United States Government in insurgencies and counterinsurgencies. There are many different types and classifications of insurgencies. Two major types are leftist, Maoist style insurgencies and right-wing, nationalist/religious style insurgencies. As the right-wing, nationalist/religious style insurgencies continue to grow and gain momentum, the question becomes, 'Are right-wing, nationalist/religious style insurgencies better structured and equipped to succeed than the leftist style insurgencies?' In order to answer this question, this monograph will analyze the structure, tactical levels of discipline, operational focus, and insurgent strategies of two modern insurgencies, each representing a right-wing, nationalist/religious style or left-wing, Maoist style movement: the Irish Republican Movement in Northern Ireland and the Maoist Rebels in Nepal. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN(M)) initiated its insurgency in 1996, when it started a 'people's war,' against the government of Nepal. The CPN(M)'s main goals was to establish a communist government in Nepal, remove the monarchial system, and remove the caste system from the country. The CPN(M) is an egalitarian type of insurgency that uses Mao Tse-Tung's Protracted People's War strategy. However, they have modified the strategy over the past few years to incorporate urban terrorist operations. This new strategy is called the Prachanda Path, named after the leader of the CPN(M)--Prachanda. The insurgents are organized around three groups: a political party, a military wing, and other groups (called the United Front). They rely on criminal activity and their diaspora for financing their operations. Operationally, they conduct activities from geographical base areas, have a well-educated leadership, poor logistics, and use both passive and coercive recruitment techniques. At the tactical level, the CPN(M) conduct full spectrum operations and limited terror operations. The Provincial Irish Republican Army (PIRA) (�"glaigh na hÉireann in Gaelic) started in 1969 when it split from the Official Irish Republican Army. Their initial goals were to protect the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland, force the British to leave Northern Ireland, and unite Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland as one country. They are a secessionist insurgency that uses an urban insurgent strategy. They conduct terrorism in Northern Ireland and abroad to try to force the government of the United Kingdom to the negotiating table. Their structure consists of an Army Council, Chief of Staff, General Headquarters, Northern and Southern Commands, Active Service Units (ASUs), and a political party--Sinn Féin. Operationally, since the 1980s, they have conducted both military and political actions ('Armalite and the Ballot Box' strategy) to achieve their goals."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Schexnayder, Robert J.

  2008-05-22
• Should the Department of Defense Establish a Unified U.S. Logistics Command?

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  From the thesis abstract: "This monograph asserts that DoD should establish a Unified Combatant Command (COCOM)-level USLOGCOM. DoD should begin a deliberate 10-20 year process to establish a USLOGCOM. As an intermediate and immediate step, DoD should make the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) an operational subordinate command of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM). The monograph also makes additional recommendations that work toward an eventual USLOGCOM, including returning the Defense Contract Management Agency to DLA control and placing additional feeding and fueling functions in theater under DLA's control. [...] Two NATO allies have already formed unified logistics organizations. The construct of the unified logistics branch of the German or British military goes well beyond what this monograph recommends, and well beyond any reputable proposal found in research for this monograph. While these allies' experience is not identical to any reputable reorganization proposal for DoD, their experience is relevant as DoD considers a road map for potential strategic logistics re-organization. The monograph prominently includes the perspectives of senior leaders on the question of forming a USLOGCOM. While the metric only includes the above-mentioned historical studies, the flag officer opinions on the topic obviously carry the most weight. These are the senior leaders who will recommend and eventually decide whether a USLOGCOM is formed."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Wenzel, Frank

  2008-05-22
• Understanding Measures of Effectiveness in Counterinsurgency Operations

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  From the thesis abstract: "Both the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy recently recognized that insurgency is causing an increased threat to the security of the world. This recognition combined with the fact that the military's counterinsurgency effort in Iraq is the central front on the Global War on Terrorism has caused the military to reorient its capabilities towards defeating the threat of an insurgency. An important piece of this reorientation needs to be focused on an increased understanding of measures of effectiveness and their integration into the operational framework of a counterinsurgency campaign. An examination of the theory, history, and doctrine of counterinsurgency operations is conducted to develop a general framework of an insurgency. An understanding of the general insurgency framework is then used to develop an operational design for counterinsurgency campaigns that applies logical lines of operations that are linked to the strategic end state. This framework makes it possible to develop the theory that to be useful, measures of effectiveness must contain certain characteristics. To be a valuable analytical tool that assists the commander in making decisions, a measure of effectiveness must contain the following characteristics; it must be meaningful, it must be linked to the strategic end state, it must have a strong identifiable relationship between cause and effect, it must be observable, it must be quantifiable, and it must be precise. The better a measure of effectiveness adheres to these characteristics the more valuable a tool it will be for the commander. In addition to these characteristics, an attribute of measures of effectiveness is that they must be correlated to changes in the environment to attain timeliness as the operation progresses."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Jones, Douglas D.

  2006-05-25
• Is the Narco-violence in Mexico an Insurgency?

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  From the thesis abstract: "Since Mexican President Felipe Calderón declared war on the drug cartels in December 2006, more than 35,000 Mexicans have died due to narco-violence. This monograph examines whether the various Mexican drug trafficking organizations are insurgents or organized criminal elements. Mexican narco-violence and its affiliated gang violence have spread across Mexico's southern border into Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Additionally, the narco-violence is already responsible for the deaths of American citizens on both sides of the United States -- Mexico border, and the potential for increased spillover violence is a major concern. This monograph argues that the Mexican drug cartels are transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that pose a national security threat to the regional state actors; however, they are not an insurgency for four reasons. First, none of the cartels have the political aim or capability to overthrow the Mexican government. Second, the various TCOs are competing criminal organizations with approximately 90 percent of the violence being cartel on cartel. For example, the violence in the city of Juárez is largely the result of the fighting between the local Juárez cartel and the Sinaloa cartel for control of one of the primary smuggling routes into the United States. Third, the cartels' use of violence and coercion has turned popular support against them thus denying them legitimacy. Fourth, although the cartels do control zones of impunity within their areas of influence, the Mexican government has captured, killed, and extradited kingpins from every major TCO. [...] The conclusion of this monograph is that the TCOs have a weak case for being an insurgency due to their lack of legitimacy because violence has been excessively cruel and lacking in purpose in the eyes of the Mexican people."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Rogan, Michael G.

  2011-05-18
• When Does a 'Hacker' Become an 'Attacker?'

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  From the thesis abstract: "The ability to defend the United States cyber sovereign territory is a must for the country to continue to enjoy relative freedom. The actual defense of this is far more difficult than the traditional defense of land, sea or air space. The Internet offers an environment of exponential growth in both technology and users. Couple this with an infantile and developing governing system and the Internet is both a conduit for use and a vehicle for attack. The history of cyber attack is key in determining the ability to defend and the mode in which to do it. By tracing the capabilities of adversaries, both internal and external, we can attempt to delineate the point where the electronic intrusion becomes alarming to the nation. Combine this understanding with a thorough knowledge of current methodologies and tools used for cyber attack and one has a good jump on 'knowing one's enemy.' Constraining, yet legitimizing, the effort of governments to fight the unbounded attack of cyber warriors are laws and agreements which attempt to lay ground rules for cyber utilization. Careful construction of these rules joined with vigilant international agreements can facilitate apprehension and thwarting of would-be attackers worldwide. Laws which are drafted without thought to the defense of information systems can be equally as damaging to the government that adopts them. This monograph concludes with the current efforts underway by the United States government and the Department of Defense in particular, Presidential Decision Directives 62 and 63 posture the United States for success in combating cyber aggression. The follow through by the legislative, judiciary branches and various departments will determine the success of this country in securing its national information infrastructure."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Are, David C.

  1998-12-16
• United States and Iran: Potential Friends or Continuing Enemies

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  From the thesis abstract: "In the past three decades, one country has stood out more than any other in opposing the United States' efforts in the Middle East: Iran. To counter Iranian influences in the Middle East, the United States has adopted a stance of containment towards Iran, which is similar in nature to what the United States did in containing the Soviet Union during the Cold War. For all of the effort towards isolating Iran and preventing it from influencing the region, the containment strategy is flawed. If containment is flawed, then what is the right strategy with Iran? To neutralize this growing threat from a Radical Islamic Iran, the United States, the West, and Sunni dominated countries of the Persian Gulf region need to end the strategy of containment. Instead, they need to work together and use the favorable aspects of Globalization along with the Elements of National Power, i.e. DIME [Diplomatic, Information, Military, and Economic] to force a favorable change to Iran's aspirations."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Van Hook, John B.

  2009-04-24
• Assessing the Efficacy of Capital Punishment in the War on Terror Through the Lenses of History, Law, and Theory

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  From the thesis abstract: "Prior to President Obama halting all ongoing military commissions, the United States charged six Guantanamo Bay prisoners with capital crimes. Further, his latest policy directive for new military commission rules has not excluded the death penalty as punishment. Application of the death penalty for convicted terrorists will draw worldwide attention. President Obama's decision to approve or disapprove a capital sentence has both domestic and international implications. Not only will application of the death penalty draw international attention, and possibly international ire, it will prove problematic because of competing issues related to strategic communication, international expectations, domestic desires, and the overall effort in fighting global terrorism. In President Obama's early days in office, he has put great emphasis on the American identity in the international arena and on using the American identity to build relationships with other nations. Therefore, the constructivist approach to international relations is an effective tool for evaluating President Obama's decisions during the punishment phase of military commissions. Using constructivism to frame his overarching decision, an examination of history, identity, law, and strategic communication help complete the examination of his strategic outlook. This paper provides a description of the international relations approach of constructivism as the theoretical basis for the author's evaluation. The application of this approach requires a combination of history, philosophy, and law. In essence, this approach presupposes that American national identity, as manifested through President Obama and his administration, will explain the decision whether or not to use capital punishment against terrorists and of the potential positive and negative consequences of this decision based on group identities. Because the factors that define, shape and describe a national identity are nearly infinite, this paper focuses on a broader historical, legal, and cultural analysis to measure the efficacy of using capital punishment against convicted terrorists. The author's analysis leads her to conclude that President Obama will approve a capital sentence handed down to convicted terrorists from a military commission."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Bohrer, Mandi L.

  2009-09-08
• Algerian Perspectives of Counterinsurgencies

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  From the monograph abstract: "Recent scholarly work has devoted much attention to analyzing the French counterinsurgency war in Algeria from 1954 to 1962. The United States military has taken many of the lessons and principles offered by authors such as David Galula and Roger Trinquier based on this conflict and placed them into its doctrine. This monograph serves to explore other examples of internal conflicts in Algeria in light of the popular model normally presented by the insurgency against French occupation in 1954. It proposes that population centric counterinsurgency emphasizes a direct approach to the population. It will show that in two other instances in Algeria an indirect model of counterinsurgency proved more effective. The study will commence with a brief review of the 1954-1962 war of independence from France and the counterinsurgency theory that emerged from it. Next, the study explores the Ottoman experience in Algeria from 1515 to 1830. Subsequently, the work will review the recent Algerian Civil War (1991-2002). The monograph will conclude with an analysis of the applicability of current counterinsurgency doctrine, as derived from the French theory, to the other insurgencies in Algeria. It will further show that the US chose as a model a theory that proved strategically ineffective in Algeria."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Laguna, Jose R.

  2010-04-22
• Psychological Warfare: Elements and Organization of Totalitarian Propaganda in a War of Nerves

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  From the monograph abstract: "Gentlemen, the problem which is under consideration resolves itself into a basic analysis of the organization and elements of psychological warfare and propaganda in a cold war or a war of nerves. For my purpose, I have taken the organization of Nazi Germany prior to and during World War II as my subject for study, because it was their concept and application that forms the basis underlying scheme of totalitarian propaganda. Upon the study of their methods, we can devise an organization in this country by which we can best equip ourselves to combat this form of warfare As a basis for planning, it can be assumed that any totalitarian country planning aggression against us will use every form of psychological warfare propaganda as a preliminary to actual military operations."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  McMillin, Dan S.

  1949-05-31
• Interagency Cooperation in the War on Drugs: Can Campaign Planning Be the Unifying Factor?

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  From the thesis abstract: "This monograph analyzes the potential of the military campaign planning process to unify the national interagency counternarcotics effort. Currently, DoD's antinarcotics mission includes the detection and monitoring of the aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs into the United States, and the integration of command, control, communications, and intelligence, (C3I) into an effective communications network. DoD also provides manpower and equipment resources to support the interdiction efforts of law enforcement agencies both in the United States and overseas. The military campaign planning has been posited as a method to foster interagency unity and to bridge the gap between the national counternarcotics strategy and the tactical level of the drug war. The potential of the campaign planning process to unify interagency counternarcotics efforts is the focus for the monograph. The paper also weighs the merits of DoD assuming a more active role in coordinating interagency campaign planning. The study establishes the context of United States military participation in the drug war by describing examples of previous and evolving military involvement. Current initiatives to improve interagency cooperation and to broaden the scope of military participation are also examined. Two campaign planning models are analyzed to show the adaptability of the campaign planning process to the drug war."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Mason, Bradley J.

  1992-05-22
• Potential for Normal Political Relations Between the United States and Iran Following Presidential Elections in Each Country

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  From the thesis abstract: "With Presidential elections in both the United States and Iran occurring within eight months of each other, one can suspect major changes in the political environment. This environment is not just the relationship between the U.S. and Iran, but the entire world, and more specifically the Middle East. With one new President and another possible new President in Iran, the impacts could be dramatic. The author believes that the political landscape will change, however, the uni-lateral relationship between the United States and Iran will not change substantially. The basic factors examined are limited, but the assumptions would be the same if the base were expanded. The major efforts are put into the history of the relationship between the United States and Iran. This history points out that despite the various stages there was once a congenial relationship. The historical review depicts that both countries have had both positive and negative events that influenced the relationships. This fact in itself would lead to believe that if it was so once, it could be possible again. The use of terrorism throughout the world has created a new paradigm for political processes and expectations by state and non-state actors. Terrorism is not a political recognized bargaining tool, but many countries are now expending millions if not billions of dollars attempting to defeat it. These efforts are wide-ranging and influence relationships across the globe. More specifically, terrorism has negative impacts in almost all countries. The use of terrorism by a state actors, or countries that expect respect is a limiting factor in this world of instant information. Terrorism is a limiting factor when trying to establish relationships, however, non-state actors can negatively influence these attempted relationship-building efforts. Nuclear weapons play a critical role in the political process. The ability to produce and delivery reliable nuclear weapons is a major bargaining chip. The full history and implications must be understood by all. Not just understood by the countries attempting to form relationships, but all countries that could be impacted by the use or threat us use of nuclear weapons. The likelihood of the United States and Iran forming a normal relationship are limited. The assumptions made and built upon throughout the paper are base on historical factors. There are many different assumptions that could be made, but maintaining a historical, fact-based argument can only lead to one logical assumption."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Jerabek, Scott B.

  2009-05-08
• Unraveling the Persian Knot: Indirect Approaches Towards Iran

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  From the monograph's abstract: "In 1979 Ayatollah Khomeini's indirect approach ignited existing socio-economic conditions during the Iranian Revolution to topple the Shah. A similar indirect approach using psychological operations to target audiences through key vulnerabilities and networks may have applicability for strategies today. Joint Pub 5-0 defines the indirect approach as the employment of attacks on an adversary's derived vulnerabilities when conditions do not permit direct attacks against a defined center of gravity (COG). […] Ayatollah Khomeini effectively unified various Iranian opposition groups through a common hatred and desire to overthrow the Shah. Most significant, the Ayatollah accomplished this while residing entirely outside Iran's borders using psychological operations as the primary arm of his approach. Joint doctrine defines psychological operations as, 'planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence the emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups, and individuals.' Often misunderstood, psychological operations require sufficient time in order to work but given appropriate time the effects can often be dramatic. Khomeini's synchronization of psychological operations with coordinated internal political violence successfully detonated underlying frustrations. This continued until it reached what Malcolm Gladwell calls the Tipping Point when the opposition suddenly unified and full mobilization occurred resulting in the Shah's removal. Today, fear of a similar psychological invasion haunts the Iranian leadership generating more angst than all other potential military threats."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Brown, George C. L.

  2009-05-21
• Digitized Chaos: Is Our Military Decision Making Process Ready for the Information Age?

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  From the monograph's abstract: "The integration of new technologies has always been important to the military. The longbow, rifled muskets, and armored fighting vehicles are all examples of technological innovations that found their way into the military. However, history has proven that new technology alone seldom has dramatic effects on battlefield effectiveness. Changes in doctrine, organization, and training must accompany the new technology in order to exploit its full capabilities. Today the Army is looking at ways to integrate information age, or digital technologies into our fighting force. In particular, the area of battle command is seen as holding great promise for digitization. Unfortunately, the Army is implementing its new battle command technology without considering changes to its planning and decision making doctrine. This monograph addresses the compatibility of the Army's Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) with information age technology. The analysis focuses on decision making theory, current digitization concepts and projects, and performance feedback from the field. The overall conclusions of this analysis are that the Army should upgrade certain portions of its decision making process to make it more compatible with digital information systems and contemporary decision making theory."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Charlton, John W.

  1997-12-18
• China's Energy Security: The Grand 'Hedging' Strategy

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  From the thesis abstract: "In the late 1970s, a group of reform minded Chinese, led by Deng Xiaoping, enacted a series of economic reforms that catapulted China into the global spotlight. The key to sustaining the dynamic growth is access to petroleum resources. The central question of this monograph is whether China's strategy is liberal-institutionalist or realist-mercantilist. Using a qualitative case study methodology that explores the dependent variable, energy security, using three independent variables, cost, reliability, and security, China's grand strategy is shown to be a hedging approach. The analysis consists of three case studies. The first case study shows that as the Chinese National Oil Companies grow in scale and experience, they are increasingly at odds with the central government's strategy. This conflict works at cross-purposes to the overall state-directed strategy. The second case study shows that in countries like Sudan, where China has extensive unilateral agreements, the strategy is clearly realist-mercantilist. The final case study shows that in areas like the maritime transit corridors, where China is reliant on outside actors for security, the strategy is liberal-institutionalism or free riding. Taken as a whole, the Chinese strategy for energy security is a combination of liberal-institutionalism, realist-mercantilism, and 'free riding,' tailored to fit the situation and to maximize opportunities that present themselves."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Lee, Stacey L.

  2010-05-20
• Intelligence Collection: Supporting Full Spectrum Dominance and Network Centric Warfare?

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  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
• Cutting the Army's Umbilical Cord: A Study of Emerging Fuel Technologies and their Impact on National Security

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  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
• Active Component Rapid Response Force; The Answer to the Military's Issues with Efficient and Effective Support during Response to and Recovery from Incidents of National Significance?

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  "Since September 11, 2001 (9/11) heavy emphasis has been placed on securing the United States and its interests from terrorism. However, little emphasis has been placed on the importance of an efficient and effective response to incidents of national significance that do not fall into the realm of terrorist activity. The events of Hurricane Katrina brought to light significant response and recovery issues associated with emergency situations within the Continental United States (CONUS) and the efficiency of the federal military response. Through April 2006 the mainstay of guidance for the use of active military forces (Title 10) has been Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 3025.15 'Military Support to Civil Authorities' (MSCA). This directive includes a myriad of enclosures and supporting documents that outline when, where, and to what extent active military personnel can assist or support civil authorities. In an effort to streamline this effort, MSCA is currently under revision and will soon be published as 'Defense Support of Civil Authorities' (DSCA). This new document attempts to mitigate some of the recurring issues regarding the use of active component forces and to provide a more succinct foundation for more efficient use of these forces. […]. The recommendation of this research is the formation of dedicated Rapid Reaction Units (RRU) by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These RRUs will be specially trained and equipped to respond to incidents of national significance."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Johnson, William

  2007-03-30
• Understanding the Form, Function, and Logic of Clandestine Cellular Networks: The First Step in Effective Counternetwork Operations

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  "Understanding the form, function, and logic of clandestine cellular networks reveals that the removal of single individuals, regardless of function, is well within the tolerance of this type of organizational structure and thus has little long-term effect. At the same time, highly connected nodes violate the principles of clandestine operations since they are obviously highly visible when compared to a competent clandestine practitioner that does not want a discernable signature in order to remain hidden from the counterinsurgent. Thus, by focusing on the highly connected individuals as high priority targets, US efforts have effectively 'culled the herd' of poor clandestine practitioners. These two examples provide the two most common errors in the current counternetwork theories and operations, and the errors are all due to a lack of a systemic understanding of clandestine cellular networks. This monograph uses a modified process-trace methodology to analyze the form, function, and logic of clandestine cellular networks in order to dispel the myths associated with current network and counternetwork theories, and challenge the contemporary thoughts on counternetwork operations. This work concludes with the development of six principles of clandestine cellular networks, along with a myriad of conclusion based on the analysis of the form, function, and logic of these networks, to provide a deeper understanding of clandestine cellular networks. Understanding the form, function, and logic of clandestine cellular networks is the first step to more effective counternetwork operations."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Jones, Derek

  2009-04-30
• Maximum Use of Civilian Communications Capabilities for National Security

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  From the introductory Staff Study section of this analytical study: "The civilian communications industry in the United States, with a plant value of over 7 billion dollars, employing over 1/2 million skilled communications men, and rapidly expanding, is capable of furnishing sufficient skilled and experienced personnel in wartime to meet practically the entire Armed Forces and industrial requirements. […] Signal Corps experience in both recent Wars has demonstrated and proven the value and benefits of military utilization of civilian industrial trained and experienced technicians as implemented through the 'Affiliation' principle. […] Current programs leading toward a utilization of this civilian skilled manpower reservoir, principally through the 'Affiliation Program', can ultimately utilize only a minor fraction of the segment of this group of personnel which would be available to the Armed Forces in wartime. Current program limitations and implementing experiences indicate a definite need for a more comprehensive program of civilian skilled personnel utilization. […] Since there exists in the Signal Corps a positive wartime requirement for trained and skilled civilian communications personnel; since there exists within the civilian communications industry a sufficient force of this category of personnel to meet practically all wartime manpower requirements; and since current programs provide for only a minor utilization of this civilian capability; - the urgency of the problem warrants consideration of a plan designed to achieve maximum utilization of this capability."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Heltzel, William E.

  1947-11-19
• Interoperability, Integration, and Interdependence Between the United States and Canadian Forces: Recreating the Devil's Brigade

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  From the monograph abstract: "In today's complex security environment, the United States' need for allies is greater than ever. While the demands on American ground forces to defend allies and deter adversaries are significant and growing, the ability to provide strategic landpower due to fiscal and political constraints is decreasing. Clearly, a strategy is needed to balance the costs of war with the responsibility of deterring adversaries to win in a complex world. This monograph addresses Army Warfighting Challenge fourteen: How to integrate joint, interorganizational, and multinational partner capabilities and campaigns to ensure unity of effort and accomplish missions across the range of military operations. Specifically, to what degree should the Department of Defense develop more effective Canada-United States interoperability, integration, and interdependence to provide more rapid and agile responses to emerging threats and security challenges? During World War II (WWII), the First Special Service Force (FSSF), a unit consisting of Canadian and US soldiers, was an elite formation that produced a whole greater than the sum of its parts against Germany. During the Korean War, unlike in Italy and France during WWII with the FSSF, Canadians were unable to integrate effectively into the coalition effort. High-level political-military communications, planning, integration, and logistics were continual problems throughout operations. With the new Army Operating Concept and Army Vision 2025, there are opportunities for Canadian elements to 'plug in' to US units. In the end, this could lead to more efficient, rapid, and better-employed forces for allied operations. By forming a permanently standing integrated brigade, the United States and Canadian armies can maximize independent comparative advantages and increase multinational interoperability, integration, and interdependence to ensure unity of effort and accomplish missions across the range of military operations."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Lamarand, Jesse W.

  2016-04-07
• Think Tanks and Influence on US Foreign Policy: The People and the Ideas

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  From the thesis abstract: "Think tanks have proliferated in number in the United States in the last century, and with that growth has come an increase in the potential influence that they have on foreign policy and national security strategy. The modern era of think tanks, encapsulating their evolution in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, has witnessed a community of non-partisan and non-profit public policy research organizations, become a source of increasing influence, often of a partisan nature. This study looks at the means by which think tanks seek to achieve influence in the foreign policy and national security domain. The primary focus is on the methods of influence. Specifically, it looks at the movement of people and their ideas, between think tanks and government, and the significant influence potential that is delivered in that way. It also provides a brief background understanding of the origins of think tanks, their typology and orientation, and their phenomenal growth in number in the last hundred years, and most notable in the period from the late 1960s to the mid-1990s."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Little, Peter M.

  2016-05-05
• Learning to Mow Grass: IDF Adaptations to Hybrid Threats

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  From the thesis abstract: "From the Army Operating Concept to ADP 3-0, the US Army expects to fight hybrid threats in the current operating environment. Hybrid threats combine the characteristics of irregular forces with improved conventional capabilities. This monograph examines the adaptations of the Israel Defense Force [IDF] against hybrid threats to draw relevant operational lessons for military planners. It links the nature of the hybrid threat, Israeli adaptations, and the adaptations' effects on Israeli operational art against the hybrid threat in three case studies spanning the Second Lebanon War in 2006, Operation Cast Lead in 2008, and Operation Protective Edge in 2014. The monograph observed Israeli adaptations in the three areas of materiel, doctrine, and training for comprehensiveness. After meeting a hybrid threat on the battlefield in 2006, the Israel Defense Force invested in equipment like the Merkava IV tank, Trophy active protection system, and Iron Dome. It purged Systemic Operational Design's language from its tactical doctrine. Critically, the Israel Defense Force retrained both active and reserve units for combined arms maneuver to defeat hybrid threats. Altogether, this provided Israeli operational art the means of a conventional ground force to succeed against Hamas in 2008 and 2014. The IDF lacked such a force against Hezbollah's hybrid threat in 2006, and lost. An Israeli ground force reequipped and retrained for combined arms maneuver defeated Hamas in 2008, and enabled Israeli operational art to counter Hamas' new subterranean threat in 2014. The Israeli experience from 2006 to 2014 have made clear that a ground force capable of combined arms maneuver remained a necessary component for effective operational art against a hybrid threat."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Nguyen, Kha M.

  2017-02-06
• Military Suicide: Developing an Understanding of Basic Issues to Provide a Lower Risk Force

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  From the thesis abstract: "The US military has historically experienced a much lower suicide rate compared to the general US population. In the last decade, the suicide rate for military personnel exceeded that of the general population; additionally, the suicide rate for military personnel more than doubled. This dramatic increase in suicide rates for the military gained significant public attention and the military then focused on preventing suicides for currently serving service members. [...] Both the general and military decedent populations present specific trends in behavior and demographics that lead to suicidal behaviors. The common issue affecting both populations is that the young adult age groups are the most affected by suicide. This suggests that a significant proportion of new service members enter service possessing the characteristics that will lead to suicidal behavior. These findings imply that the current suicide prevention programs may not fully address the underlying mental health issues associated with the young adult population. As a result, the services may be inadvertently recruiting service members with increased risk. The military services have a history of conducting psychological screening in times of conflict, and have developed additional testing aids that may assist in efforts to provide a more resilient force. Unfortunately, the military services currently do not place significant effort on reducing the population with highest suicidal behavioral risk at the point of accession for service. Efforts to identify and reduce these specific subpopulations will both reduce the military suicide rates and enable military medical resources to focus better on the currently serving population to enhance suicide prevention and intervention efforts."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Remoy, Eric M.

  2017-05-25