This paper analyzes Effects-Based Operations as the most effective way to frame future joint operations in a complex, uncertain environment. This new complex and uncertain environment is characterized by adversaries who have increasingly more...
Course of action analysis is a critical step in the traditional military decision making process. During this step, planners determine the suitability, feasibility, and acceptability of a possible solution. Common staff procedures for analyzing...
This monograph is an investigation of the mission analysis step of the Army's tactical decision-making process as it applies to operations other than war. The tactical decision-making process (TDMP) is a proven method of solving problems in combat...
The air and missile threat posed by hostile states and terrorist organizations to the continental United States is a reality. Violent extremist organizations such as al-Qa'ida, as well as rogue nations, such as Iran and North Korea, are actively...
Although operational level intelligence was assessed as adequate for the initial phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom, discussion about the inadequacy of tactical intelligence support for commanders continues to resonate within the Military...
In the wake of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, T.E. Lawrence's description of counterinsurgency (COIN) analogous to "eating soup with a knife," has new meaning in our contemporary military. It describes our kinetic conventional army (the knife)...
How might military practitioners incorporate social science concepts within the intelligence analytical framework to better define and understand the human dimension of an area of operation? Current military intelligence doctrine vaguely prescribes...
Currently the United States is involved in providing logistics support to multinational stability operations around the world. Synchronizing support to US and coalition forces not only requires planners to integrate the different strategic,...
Environmental Security (ES) is a process for analyzing and responding to those environmental issues caused by anthropogenically driven environmental degradation. Climate change is a major ES threat having the potential to affect U.S. national...
This thesis examines the methods that the United States Army Intelligence Center (USAIC) uses to train the Army’s intelligence analysts. Rapidly changing world conditions require that the Army train its intelligence analysts to correctly identify...
This research project was designed to answer the question of whether there is a need to have a pool of Joint Operation Planning and Execution System (JOPES) operators. The question stems from the researcher’s personal experience as a JOPES...
Today's Army is undergoing significant change, completing its modular transformation and adopting mission command as a war fighting function in an effort to meet the needs of a constantly adapting enemy and uncertain environment. Mission command is...
Martin van Creveld, a noted theorist, contends that the concept of operational art did not take off in the United States (US) until after the Vietnam War. Conversely, James Schneider, a prominent military theorist, asserts that operational art...
This monograph examines how the U.S. Army compares to other complex systems in the use of information to solve problems. Like most complex systems, the U.S. Army strives to attain an informational advantage over its opponents. However, according to...
U.S. military forces are conducting peace operations more frequently than ever before. Commanders in peace operations are faced with the dilemma of having to provide stability and security in an environment where the use of force is severely...
Now more than ever every facet of society relies on the NII to facilitate critical information related activities. Entities around the world have not ignored this transformation and seek to steal, disrupt, and interdict the U.S.'s key information...
Uncertainty and confusion in warfare make decision making a challenge. Every commander must determine whether or not the information he has is valid or complete, and whether or not he should wait for additional information which may arrive at any...
Military officials often utilize the PMESII-PT acronym (Political, Military, Economic, Social, Information, Infrastructure, Physical Environment, and Time) as an analytical start point to assess an operational environment. However, the linear...
American policy in Afghanistan has evolved since the initial engagement of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. It has become increasingly clear that strategic focus must include a plan to concentrate upon and continue development of a stable and secure...
The monograph explores US intervention in Somalia, Bosnia, and Haiti as case studies to determine how the concepts of operational design were applied to peace operations. It also reviews the theories of Clausewitz and Jomini with a comparison to...