Winning the Enduring Victory at the Operational Level: Recommendations for the Geographic Combatant Commander and His Civilian Teammates
Abstract
Since the end of the Vietnam War, three truths have endured in regards to the American military and its non-military teammates and their collective execution of duty. First and foremost, the American military remains unbeatable on the battlefield. Secondly, wars don't end with the final battle. Third, and most frustrating, the American civil-military team has not gotten any better at winning a war and achieving national security objectives after it wins the last battle. Geographical Combatant Commanders can take steps to improve their chances at achieving enduring victory within their regions. The first is to conduct more comprehensive and qualitative interagency contingency planning focused at winning the war and achieving an enduring victory. The second is to reclaim the jurisdiction of military governance. The third is to reorganize their available forces, and tailor their training guidance and resources to account for major regional contingencies and peace operations. Wars are not won with the final battle, and victory is not achieved until the national security objectives are met and the defeated population is reconciled with their defeat. Civil- military leaders must recognize that wars and contingency operations cannot he segmented into a fighting part followed by another part. Once this is acknowledged, the American civil-military team can identify what victory is and work together from start to finish achieving it.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 09, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA422771
Entities
People
- Eric G. Kail
Organizations
- Naval War College