Peacetime Engagement - A Search for Relevance?

Abstract

Although the September 1991 Draft National Military Strategy document identified peacetime engagement as a key direction of the Department of Defense, what is peacetime engagement, and is it a relevant military mission? This paper defines the term (changed to forward presence operations in the January 1992 National Military Strategy of the United States), examines the differing arguments of whether it is a relevant military mission, and explores the impact of this policy on the Army. It concludes that while it is a relevant policy, there are a number of hurdles that must be first overcome. These hurdles include (1) a lack of a government policy on when and where to use it, (2) an inadequate government system for interagency cooperation, (3) a lack of public support, and (4) the potential that the military will become part of the problem, instead of the solution. If these hurdles can be overcome, then the military must be ready to take on the mission. To be fully prepared, the military must first resolve a number of doctrine, force structure, and training issues.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 12, 1992
Accession Number
ADA249355

Entities

People

  • Brian J. Ohlinger

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

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  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

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  • Active Duty
  • Air Force
  • Civil Affairs
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  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Military Science
  • Military Strategy
  • National Security
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  • United States
  • War
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  • Warfare

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