Today's Operational Challenge: Defining Victory in Operations Short of War
Abstract
This analysis centers on the three essential questions of operational art in FM 100-5, Operations. These questions define victory for the operational commander. They are: 1) What military conditions must be produced in the theater of war or theater of operations to achieve the strategic goal? 2) What sequence of actions is most likely to produce that condition? 3) How should the resources of the force be applied to accomplish that sequence of actions? The questions are probed using the strategic-operational, military-civilian and operational tactical interfaces. These affect the definition of victory in operations short of war. Each interface is analyzed considering its effect on the above questions. The paper is conceptual. No specific campaign is studied, but a variety of examples from recent operations short of war such as the Iran hostage rescue mission, the Grenada operation, the raid in Libya and current operations in the Persian Gulf provide insights for the analysis. This monograph examines the complexity of operations short of war. This complexity leads to two deductions. First, actions in theaters of operations short of war qualify as operational art. Second, doctrine is inadequate in addressing the complexities these operations entail. It also finds that the military-civilian interface is critical to success in these operations. Like it or not, operational commanders in operations short of war must understand and cope with policy; policy-makers and the media. Preparing commanders for this role requires emphasis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 19, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA202270
Entities
People
- Walter Wojdakowski
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College