20-W112 Contemporary Operating Environment.txt

  1. 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?
  2. Operating Environment
    “A composite of the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect employment of military forces and affect the decisions of the unit commander.:
  3. 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
  4. COE Variables (PMESII-PT)
    • Political
    • Military
    • Economics
    • Social
    • Information
    • Infrastructure
    • Physical Environment
    • Time
  5. COE Variable: Time
    • Operational planning factor
    • Does not favor U.S. goals
  6. COE Variable: Physical Environment
    • Circumstances & conditions
    • Defining factors
    • Complex terrain
    • Adverse weather
  7. COE Variable: Infrastructure
    • Systems needed for the functioning of a community or society
    • Tehcnological sophistication
  8. COE Variable: Information
    • Information is power
    • Perception management
    • Information flow
    • Sophistication
  9. COE Variables: Social
    • People
    • Groups & Institutions
    • How people define themselves & interact with others
  10. COE Variable: Economics
    • Haves / Have-nots
    • Resources
    • Regional Action / Global Reaction
    • Legitimate & Black markets
  11. COE Variable: Political
    • Institutions of governance
    • Distribution of power
  12. Drawbacks of Technology
    • - Compromisable
    • - Has weaknesses
    • - Always adaptable
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. Characterstics of Paramilitary Forces
    • Distinct from conventional forces
    • Resemble them in organization, equipment, training, mission
  16. Characteristic of Insurgents
    • Internal to a country
    • Goal is to bring down government
    • Conduct irregular warfare
  17. Characterstics of Non Combatants
    • Not armed, not participating, not supporting any faction
    • Includes surrendered personnel
  18. Characteristics of Drug & Criminal Organizations
    • Profit Motivated
    • Will finance other actors
  19. COE Actors
    • - Conventional forces
    • - Paramilitary
    • - Insurgents
    • - Drug & Criminal Organizations
    • - Non Combatants
  20. Phases of Protracted Warfare
    • 1. Gain substance & legitimacy
    • 2. Organized guerilla warfare
    • 3. Conventional warfare
  21. Types of Noncombatants
    • - Media
    • - Humanitarian Relief Organizations
    • - Criminals
    • - Multinational corporations
    • - Private Security Organizations
    • - Other civilians on the battlefield
    • - EPW (POWs)
  22. Working with Noncombatants
    • - How organized
    • - What motivates
    • - What they do, what they provide
    • - Constraints on them
  23. Goal of COE
    An adaptive leader or Soldier who understands “How to think” and “When to act” more than “What to think”
Author
ShawnStanford
ID
88016
Card Set
20-W112 Contemporary Operating Environment.txt
Description
Standard: Identify the premise and expectations of the contemporary operational environment (COE): critical variables and their characteristics; types of actors affecting the COE; how others perceive us and the application of their perceptions; the impact of the COE at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels; and anticipated adaptations by potential adversaries.
Updated