Non-Lethal Weapons: Force Enabler for the Operatonal Commander Conducting Peace Operations

Abstract

Conducting peace operations is a recurring mission of the United States military. To carry out this function, the Task Force Commander must be afforded a wide array of alternative response methods to implement in the field. Since non-lethal weapons can be employed at the lower end of the force continuum, the commander can more rapidly counter evolving threat situations, retain the initiative, and reduce the vulnerability of his soldiers. Without non-lethal weapons, the commander is faced with the uneasy decision of either doing nothing, or killing somebody. Failing to quickly respond could get his forces hurt, while an overly aggressive response using lethal force could forfeit the legitimacy of the operation. Non-lethal weapons offer a critical interim step for the commander to employ before resorting to lethal force. Capable of delivering a varying level of effects, non-lethal weapons response levels can ratchet up or down along the force continuum in direct relationship to the intensity of the perceived threat.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 05, 2001
Accession Number
ADA389500

Entities

People

  • Gerald W. Norbut

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biological Factors
  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Incapacitating Agents
  • International Relations
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • Nonlethal Agents
  • Nonlethal Ammunition
  • Nonlethal Weapons
  • Pepper Spray
  • Security
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Systems Analysis and Design