Is U.S. Army Rear Area and Base Security Doctrine Sound for Sustaining Operations on the Noncontiguous Nonlinear Battlefield?

Abstract

Army FM 3-0, Operations replaced the term rear operations with sustaining operations, introduced fundamental changes to the operational framework, and suggested leaders use adaptive combinations of contiguous and noncontiguous areas of operations with linear and nonlinear operations in the execution of full spectrum operations. This conceptual shift of sustaining operations on a noncontiguous nonlinear battlefield requires fundamental changes in rear area and base security doctrine.This monograph reviews Joint and Army doctrine; assesses the threats to sustainment operations base on the COE and Army transformation; and explores historical case studies of Russian operations in Afghanistan. The monograph analyzes these findings against the TRADOC Doctrinal Literature Programs characteristics of sound doctrine to determine if U.S. Army rear area and base security doctrine is sound for sustaining operations on the noncontiguous nonlinear battlefield.The analysis concludes that components of Army doctrine do not meet the TRADOC criteria for sound doctrine. Doctrinal definitions for the threat levels are reactive, use of the term rear area is inconsistent; and command relationships are not comprehensible. Additionally, the doctrinal concepts for rear area security are not enduring and the lack of a preemptive concept is inconsistent with the NSS, JV 2020, and the Objective Force. Finally, force design capabilities are not acceptable or well researched based on recent Russian operations, or flexible based on the unique requirements of the noncontiguous nonlinear battlefield.The monograph recommends several changes to doctrine definitions, concepts, and capabilities. Recommendations include improving threat level and rear area definitions, introducing preemption and operational level force protection concepts, and enabling support organizations with organic, f

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 22, 2003
Accession Number
ADA415853

Entities

People

  • Anthony M. Coston

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Cyber
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Area Security
  • Combat Areas
  • Combat Forces
  • Combat Operations
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • Force Protection
  • Information Operations
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies