At the core of U.S. counterinsurgency doctrine is the concept of “hearts and minds.” Although the concept has significantly deviated from its historical grounding and has become a nebulous concept that is frequently maligned, misunderstood, and...
Counterinsurgency is the most common conflict that America engages in. From the Mexican-American War to the Philippine Insurrection and small wars of the early 1900s, the U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) focused on sanitation, hygiene programs...
The Niger Delta region is the nerve of the Nigerian economy. The region has witnessed series of conflicts largely due to the oil resources therein. Violent militancy in the Niger Delta assumed a new dimension in the mid nineties as the residents...
As America leads the fight against world terrorism our success on the nontraditional battle field rests with the Soldier with boots on the ground. Leaders at all levels, from the policy makers in Washington down to the squad leader, must have an...
Counter insurgent operations are waged by government forces that are fighting against a group in rebellion against a government’s authority. The success or failure of counter insurgent operations relies on factors ranging from the support of the...
As Noncommissioned Officers in our nation’s Army we have had the distinct honor of
serving in the Armed Forces and contributed to many great accomplishments around the world.
Over time as we sit back and reminisce certain points in time stand...
History has shown that the political climate of the citizens effect not only how we wage
war, but also can effect the outcome of the conflict. Winning the hearts and minds of the
people can be more difficult that winning the war. We will look at a...
One of the most encouraging successes of the United States Army presence in Afghanistan is the Tarin Kowt road. This road brings together the cities of Kandehar and Tarin Kowt. The extension of transportation routes into more rural areas of...
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...
The term Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP) is often utilized as the sum total of the understanding of medical engagements conducted by the medical formations of the US military in the current environment. When utilized, the term MEDCAP quite...
The United States has been actively engaged in a strategy to eliminate the conditions that spawn an asymmetric threat since the attacks of September 11, 2001. An important part of this process is to assist with installing a stable legitimate...
Counterinsurgency in the 21st century does not expose itself in the form of yesterdays
conventional battles, nor do past-conflicts provide us with guaranteed future results. The ability
to gather intelligence ultimately depends on one’s skill to...
Numerous conflicts, both foreign and domestic, have involved the United States since its discovery. From the early days of fighting native Indians, to pitting brother against brother during the Civil War, to the most recent campaigns in Iraq and...
Do Information Operations (IO) contribute to success in counterinsurgency campaigns? What IO measures of excellence exist to demonstrate achievement of success in counterinsurgencies? These questions currently challenge U.S. military forces...
Actionable Intelligence (AI) is defined in military terms as: “Any information from a reliable source that may be used by a commander to insure a successful mission or operation conducted with speed and accuracy”. In no other time has this been...
In meeting the challenges of post-hostility Iraq, the area of information operations (IO) has received a great deal of attention. Unlike combat operations, the center of gravity in post-conflict Iraq has been restoration of basic services and...
Historically, the U.S. Army faces numerous challenges planning for counterinsurgency (COIN) operations. Insurgencies by their very nature occur within the context of a complex operating environment that typically last years if not decades. The...
Fanelli, Michael P.; Haralson, Ricky L.; Mapes, Jim A.; Plzak, Robert; Speakman, Brian K.; Terry, Michael S.
The United States (U.S.) Army and military planning experts believe that the U.S. military will not have a peer or near peer competitor until at least 2020. The enemies of the U.S. will most likely use the current conflict as a template and use...
America's wars cannot be won simply by applying lethal effects. The U.S. military can defeat any adversary using lethal effects to gain, clear and hold key terrain or cities faster than at any other time in history. However, winning the war...