Humanitarian Assistance and the Elements of Operational Design
Abstract
This monograph examines joint warfighting doctrine to determine whether it applies to humanitarian assistance operations. Joint warfighting doctrine is based on campaign planning guidance. Campaign planning is characterized by operational art which consists of the elements of operational design: objective, sequencing of operations and the application of resources, and the operational functions. To determine whether joint warfighting doctrine applies to humanitarian assistance operations, recent Operations Provide Comfort and Restore Hope were analyzed using the elements of operational design. The monograph demonstrated that the elements of operational design applied to humanitarian assistance operations. A major conclusion was that the centers of gravity were major hostile factions which threatened to disrupt or interfere with humanitarian assistance aid being provided by nongovernmental agencies and military forces. The friendly centers of gravity were the timely provision of humanitarian aid by nongovernmental organizations and military forces. Other conclusions discuss the shortcomings in the application of the elements of operational design and doctrine. Doctrinal shortfalls were found in the focus of intelligence, the design concepts for operational movement and maneuver, and the definition of operational fires which excludes nonlethal means such as psychological operations. Civil affairs played a prominent role in humanitarian assistance and should be considered an operational function by planners during plan development. Humanitarian assistance, Operation restore hope, Operational design, Operations other than war, Operation provide comfort, Somalia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 14, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA274444
Entities
People
- Carol D. Clair
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College