Human Aspects of the Operational Environment: Final Report

The Human Aspects of the Operational Environment (HAOE) study explores those dimensions of human beings which would likely impact future NATO operations. It is designed to serve as the foundation for a follow-on Bi-Strategic Command (Bi-SC) capstone concept, which would inform the NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP) and transform existing capabilities to better adapt to human requirements in operations. The HAOE study is based on shortfalls and gaps identified in recent operations as well as the work of seven distinct research panels. The HAOE study proposes capability transformations that can mitigate the challenges NATO might face in future operational environments as the human dimension becomes increasingly more important. The report concludes that increased cooperation and coordination with international organizations (IOs), governmental bodies, academia, think-tanks, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) using a Comprehensive Approach strategy would improve the Alliance's effectiveness in conducting Non-Article 5 Crises Response Operations (NA5CRO). However, the evolving characteristics of the security environment require NATO to build a common understanding of trends and inform its continuing transformation efforts. The HAOE research focuses on seven broad areas: main drivers of human action; understanding the human environment; complexity of cross-cultural communication; dynamics of the local situation; perception and acceptance of NATO operations; measurable indicators of a population's attitude toward NATO operations; and transforming NATO capabilities to better adapt to the human environment. A summarization of key findings from each research area is provided in the following paragraphs. Understanding the main drivers of human action enhances rapport building with the local population

U.S. National Security and Global Health: An Analysis of Global Health Engagement by the U.S. Department of Defense

Despite a broadening consensus that global health care efforts have an impact on national and global security, the U.S. national security community’s efforts to address global health are weak and uncoordinated. The 2006 National Security Strategy states that “development reinforces diplomacy and defense, reducing long-term threats to our national security by helping to build stable, prosperous, and peaceful societies.” While the U.S. government struggles to find the right balance among the “three Ds” of defense, diplomacy, and development, the U.S. military has increased its involvement in global health where it perceives the diplomacy and development to be underresourced—or to achieve its own specific objectives. As efforts to renew the capabilities of civilian agencies proceed, it is an appropriate time to step back and consider the role that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) currently plays in global health, the impact of its health activities on national and regional security, and the role it could play to support a newly balanced U.S. foreign policy

Untapped Air Force resources for stabilization and reconstruction operations

This thesis reviews the potential contributions of the United States Air Force to stabilization and reconstruction operations. Specifically, the Air Force's On-Scene Commanders Course and Air Force Mission Support Group Commanders are assessed as potential Air Force assets that could be employed in stabilization and reconstruction operations. This research will determine the course's ability to satisfy key needs identified in the post-conflict literature and if the course would be useful for other U.S. agencies with responsibilities in post-conflict operations. Finally, this paper asks if Mission Support Group Commanders can provide critical skill-sets valuable in stability operations. This work will assess the applicability of these Air Force leaders' duties for possible use in post-conflict operations by reviewing the Air Force's Objective Wing Structure and duty histories of current and former Mission Support Group Commanders.http://archive.org/details/untappedairforce109452748US Air Force (USAF) author.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Reintegration and Long-Term Development: Linkages and Challenges. Thematic Working Paper 5.

This working paper explores reinsertion and reintegration processes and how these connect (or are expected to connect) with donor-led strategies for post-conflict reconstruction and long-term development. DDR has long been recognised as essential for post-conflict stability, but in the 2000s, there has been emphasis on enhancing the linkages between short-term, time-bound DDR process and long-term reconstruction and development programmes and processes in post-conflict states. The importance of situating reintegration into the wider context of long-term development has been stressed by the UN, whose best practice guidelines emphasise that reintegration should: 'support a broader national strategic plan for reconciliation, reconstruction and development.' This does not suggest a restructuring of DDR activities, which aim to establish an environment conducive to long-term economic development rather than fostering long-term development, but a bridging of short- and long-term agendas

Using cyber capabilities to inform and influence

As the world evolves and becomes more technical, the need for traditional messaging techniques diminishes. The need of the military to be able to dynamically target an individual or group with specific messages in order to inform or influence grows exponentially every year. This need also increases as the United States shifts its military focus from uneducated Third World countries to countries with established infrastructure and large cyber footprints. The military must be able to use the cyber domain to inform or influence a target audience to achieve a desired effect by disseminating a message, attributable or non-attributable, through use of the Web, e-mail or social media. The ability to understand the topology of the Internet is key to targeting a specific audience and to do this an understanding of geolocation is key. To target a specific audience with a message we must understand where they are located to understand culture, customs, and language. With cyberspace quickly becoming a dominant factor in the information environment, how can the military use the cyber domain to inform or influence a target audience to achieve a desired effect by disseminating a message, either attributable or non-attributable through the web, e-mail or social mediahttp://archive.org/details/usingcybercapabi1094527908Major, United States ArmyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Integrated missions: the challenge of planning and command

Civil-Military Integration is a growing trend in modern peace operations. Most leading nations and international organisations are developing integrated structures at strategic levels and have started to change their doctrines to include a broader spectrum of tools disposable to the national as well as the international community. The UN has established and is implementing their concept of Integrated Missions which aims to link the long term development and short term peacekeeping effort into their peace-building strategy. This thesis is analysing this concept, focusing on the planning and structuring of Integrated Missions and exploring what consequences it will have to the military component. First the thesis reviews some of the important historical developments toward civil-military integration and multi-dimensional UN peacekeeping during the 1990s. The Military Force Commander became a military adviser to a political leader, and the UN operations became more civil in form and function and the military’s task portfolio widened to include an increasingly number of non-military tasks. Further the thesis is establishing a theoretical model of an integrated mission in a wider peace building context involving the humanitarian sector, the UN country team and the non-governmental organisations. Planning and structure of a mission is focused. This model is then brought to the practical level by doing a single case study of the ongoing UN Mission in Sudan, focusing on the planning, the establishment and structure as mandated in Security Resolution 1590. This mission seems to be well integrated already from the beginning involving the UN Country Team in the strategy and planning. The mission has a unified plan coordinated with the humanitarian work plan for Sudan. The concept of Integrated Mission implies that the military component must share their planning,information, staff and logistics with the civilian sector in the operations. The UN is focusing on implementation of the concept in their future missions, establishing more integrated structures at mission HQ level and more integrated processes at all levels. The military must provide more expertise in form of intelligence and joint level staff experiences in order to establish the new integrated structures. Further the humanitarian sector of the UN (OCHA) and the peacekeeping sector (DPKO) seem to focus on coordination of their policy documents and de-confliction of roles especially when it comes to the military involvement in humanitarian efforts. Integration is much about understanding roles; avoiding duplication of effort and trying to bring synergies in a comprehensive strategy

Stabilisation operations as complex systems - order and chaos in the interoperability continuum

There is little knowledge in regards to the influence of complex systems thinking on the strategic modelling of stabilization operations. To better control the impact of information asymmetry in such context, this study focuses on gaining an understanding on how concepts and principles operate in theory and practice. Particularly, this study explores how the complexity of the environmental conditions influences stabilization operations as complex systems. Second, it addresses subsequent influences on a system’s required self-organizing ability to differentiate and integrate its various sub-systems, their organizational resources and competencies. Third, this study regards the development and adjustment of condition-dependent capabilities as key to reaching a state of dynamic equilibrium while processing, distributing and exchanging information. The aim of this study is both theoretical and practical: offering complex systems thinking as an alternative for the strategic modelling of stabilization operations and supporting the debate over the extent to which integration is feasible and desirable

Sustainable construction in Afghanistan

This thesis examines whether current reconstruction methods in Afghanistan are economically efficient and effective with respect to the counterinsurgency mission. My argument is that they are not, due to the absence of culturally correct, indigenous construction materials and techniques. This research explores the impact of construction as a part of a counterinsurgency mission, drawing on local cultural factors and building techniques in constructing new facilities in Afghanistan. If current methods are not sustainable either culturally or economically, then the reconstruction efforts are likely to fail, incentivize corruption, and weaken the legitimacy of the Afghan government. If, on the other hand, they are sustainable and sensitive to local cultural norms and economic capacity, the likelihood of these projects increasing the quality of life, building positive relationships, and decreasing violence, increases significantly. If reconstruction fails to increase the ability of the Afghan government to develop the capacity at the local level, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will not have anyone to which it can transfer responsibility for local government services. This would seriously inhibit the ability of ISAF to transition to Afghan control and, given the current political environment in the United States, potentially lead to the failure of the Afghan campaign.http://archive.org/details/sustainableconst109455191Outstanding ThesisUS Navy (USN) authorApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited