-
Contemporary Operational Environment
- “...realistic combination of current and near-term operational variables with a capabilities-based composite of potential adversaries to create a wide array of conditions necessary for full-spectrum training and leader development.”
- - Who are we going to fight? What are their capabilities?
-
Operating Environment
“A composite of the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect employment of military forces and affect the decisions of the unit commander.:
-
OE Premises
- - Nations will use armies
- - Advanced technology is available on the world market
- - Non-state actors will plan an important role
- - Combat ops will be affected by variables outside military control
-
COE Variables (PMESII-PT)
- Political
- Military
- Economics
- Social
- Information
- Infrastructure
- Physical Environment
- Time
-
COE Variable: Time
- Operational planning factor
- Does not favor U.S. goals
-
COE Variable: Physical Environment
- Circumstances & conditions
- Defining factors
- Complex terrain
- Adverse weather
-
COE Variable: Infrastructure
- Systems needed for the functioning of a community or society
- Tehcnological sophistication
-
COE Variable: Information
- Information is power
- Perception management
- Information flow
- Sophistication
-
COE Variables: Social
- People
- Groups & Institutions
- How people define themselves & interact with others
-
COE Variable: Economics
- Haves / Have-nots
- Resources
- Regional Action / Global Reaction
- Legitimate & Black markets
-
COE Variable: Political
- Institutions of governance
- Distribution of power
-
Drawbacks of Technology
- - Compromisable
- - Has weaknesses
- - Always adaptable
-
Foreign Perceptions of U.S.
- - Hypocritical
- - Question legitimacy as global leader
- - Imperialist w/ulterior motives
- - Can be a counterbalance
- - Into regime change
- - Cultural contaminator
- - Preserve status quo
- - View others as cheap labor, create brain drain
- - Competitor for resources
- - Exports inappropriate concepts
- - Content to leave 3rd world in poverty
-
Perceive U.S. Weaknesses
- - Casualty averse
- - Ignorant
- - Luxury-loving
- - Air power dependent
- - USAF predictable, causes civilian casualties
- - Army & USMC slow, log heavy contractor-dependent
- - No long-term public memory
- - Prefers using money to arms
- - Not a reliable ally
-
Characterstics of Paramilitary Forces
- Distinct from conventional forces
- Resemble them in organization, equipment, training, mission
-
Characteristic of Insurgents
- Internal to a country
- Goal is to bring down government
- Conduct irregular warfare
-
Characterstics of Non Combatants
- Not armed, not participating, not supporting any faction
- Includes surrendered personnel
-
Characteristics of Drug & Criminal Organizations
- Profit Motivated
- Will finance other actors
-
COE Actors
- - Conventional forces
- - Paramilitary
- - Insurgents
- - Drug & Criminal Organizations
- - Non Combatants
-
Phases of Protracted Warfare
- 1. Gain substance & legitimacy
- 2. Organized guerilla warfare
- 3. Conventional warfare
-
Types of Noncombatants
- - Media
- - Humanitarian Relief Organizations
- - Criminals
- - Multinational corporations
- - Private Security Organizations
- - Other civilians on the battlefield
- - EPW (POWs)
-
Working with Noncombatants
- - How organized
- - What motivates
- - What they do, what they provide
- - Constraints on them
-
Goal of COE
An adaptive leader or Soldier who understands “How to think” and “When to act” more than “What to think”
|
|
