Leveraging Operational Preparation of the Environment in the GWOT
Abstract
USSOCOM's effective execution of operational preparation of the environment (OPE) is a critical component in the strategy for winning the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). OPE is a series of activities that seek to enable future operations by allowing U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) personnel to enhance their situational awareness and understanding within an area of interest and improve operational responsiveness. Joint Publication 3-13 defines OPE as "non-intelligence activities conducted to plan and prepare for potential follow-on military operations" conducted under Title 10 authority. Maximizing the effectiveness of OPE in support of the GWOT will require the following measures. Although USSOCOM has in fact developed a comprehensive unconventional warfare campaign plan and an OPE planning framework it would benefit from having an OPE specific campaign plan that operationalizes OPE in an effort to both guide its conduct and synchronize its effects. A comprehensive OPE campaign plan would synchronize preparation activities while subsuming regional specific OPE programs into one unified global effort thus ensuring that preparation activities are more than just isolated tactical actions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA450588
Entities
People
- Michael T. Kenny
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College