The Cognitive Map: Coordinated Planning for the Department of Defense and the Department of State
Abstract
Joint Publication 5-0, Joint Operation Planning, highlights the importance of the integration of the military actions with those of other instruments of national power to achieve the desired end state.1 The DOD planning process lacks a clearly defined to create a systematic approach to effectively integrate the diplomatic, information, military and economic national instruments of power. Department of Defense Joint Publication 1, Joint Warfare of the Armed Forces of the United States, states that the United States relies for its security on the complementary application of the basic instruments of national power: diplomatic, economic, informational, and military. US involvement in recent conflicts has highlighted a need for a more clearly defined planning process between the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of State (DOS) that focuses all the instruments of power (IOP) on the desired end state. Currently there is no process in place to improve DOD and DOS interagency planning. This paper recommends the Strategic Cognitive Map as a holistic approach to interagency planning. The cognitive map ensures unity of effort throughout all phases of a conflict. In order to implement a change of this magnitude, the US government must enact a law that forces the DOD and DOS to focus on synchronizing and integrating interagency planning and operations; a complete restructuring of the DOD and DOS, similar to the Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act of 1986.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1020052
Entities
People
- Travis L. Edwards
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College