This paper provides a critical analysis and assessment of interagency-Department of Defense (DOD) support during combat operations, specifically stability operations during or post-conflict. The general reluctance of the Department of Defense to conduct stability operations combined with the still-inadequate capabilities of the civilian agencies and departments to support a whole of government approach to modern warfare reveal tenets for improved efficacy of the stability enterprise in conflict areas. During combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, organizational, best practices, and...

This study explores whether the current United States military strategy should focus more on a comprehensive interagency approach as a more efficient way of focusing all elements of national power to defeat our enemies in the Long War on Terrorism. The method used to determine this question is initially accomplished by framing the scope of the current operating environment in the context of Fourth Generation Warfare. The definition of Fourth Generation Warfare is developed based on Col. Thomas X. Hammes' writings and then is further developed to show relevance and applicability to current...

The United States Army is currently at a major crossroads with respect to training. Experiences from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the introduction of Army Field Manual 3-0, Operations, and its equal importance placed on offensive operations, defensive operations, and stability operations, combined with the necessity to be prepared for future conflicts all present a complex problem for Army. Further complicating the situation is increasingly limited resources for the military. The lack of resources includes limited time available to train due to a very demanding operational...

The focus of this thesis is to determine how U.S. Army corps and divisions ensure deliberate gap crossings, a type of combined arms operations, are planned using operational art. Examination of doctrine for gap crossings shows gap crossing to be tactical problems. Corps, division, and operational art doctrine does not directly address the need to incorporate gap crossings as part of an overall campaign. This paper compares two case studies from World War II in their strategic context with tactical outcomes using operational art. The failed crossing of the Rapido River in Italy and the...

Officer education is a major component in the preparation for the next war. The Command and General Staff College (CGSC) is the Army's principal institution for educating field grade officers. War's chameleon nature sometimes denies and frustrates the ability of nations to accurately predict and prepare for the next war. The major dichotomy plaguing the prediction and preparation for the next war is major conventional combat operations and irregular warfare. Army doctrine currently places these supposed polar opposites within the full spectrum of operations. This research examines how well...

General of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley served as the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and he played a significant role during the Korean War. Bradley served as the senior military advisor to President Harry S. Truman, and he was the critical link to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur as the United Nations Commander during the war. The most critical events in the Korean War occurred in the first year. Bradley established the military policy that guided the actions for MacArthur in the conduct of military operations. His role with MacArthur was to ensure operations did not...

"German General Staff Officer Education and Current Challenges" examines the institutional education of German General Staff Officers, as experienced by the author, and offers a "Conceptual Competency-Skill-Framework" for professional development. Five competencies (Physical, Intrinsic Motivation, Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Cognitive Competency) and five skills (Deduction, Synthesis, Analysis, Induction, and Revaluation Skill) define this model through a process of theory and praxis. A case study of an operational planner for the first German Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in...

Since the attacks on September 11, 2001, the United States (US) has waged a Global War on Terror (GWOT) based upon the flawed strategy of countering a tactic, terrorism, as opposed to a strategy built on understanding and identifying its enemy. By focusing exclusively on terrorist organizations, the US failed to recognize the broader-based movement of establishing a dominant Islamic world power. Analysis should have been conducted encompassing the ways, means and ends of a known adversary, such as Islamic fundamentalists. Using this group as a source of comparison, this monograph demonstrates...

This paper explores the relationship between globalization of the arms industry and interoperability. Its premise is that while the arms industry has undertaken significant steps to globalize, NATO and ABCA military force interoperability levels remain woefully inadequate. Over sixty years ago NATO and the ABCA program sought to standardize the militaries of their member nations. Each member country agreed to take steps to ensure that interoperability among force elements was achieved. A truly globalized arms industry offers a platform to achieve greater standardization and interoperability...

Most of those who comment on Iran's attempt to influence Iraqi Shia, do so without considering the historical and cultural connection between these two peoples. The research presented directs its attention to the Iranian motives and capabilities and then to the first targets of Iranian influence efforts. Finally, the research considered the historical and cultural connections between Iraqi and Iranian Shia to identify the themes and methods that persuade Iraqi Shia to collaborate with Iran. Iran is presently conducting an aggressive strategic influence campaign into southern Iraq. The Iraqi...