NGOs in the Operational Theater: What Commanders Need to Understand and How to Work Together
Abstract
The United States military will continue to conduct operations in asymmetric conflicts that resemble its latest endeavors in Iraq, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). These two conflicts will likely be the prototypes for future military operations. Therefore, future commanders will encounter Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in their Areas of Operations with increasing regularity. The Operational Commander and his subordinates must look for ways to improve their interactions with these non-state actors to better achieve operational end-states. Commanders must have a better appreciation of what NGOs are and how they operate. In addition, Commanders must balance their primary task of providing security in post-conflict or stability operations and balance that with NGO conduct in the Host Nation. Commanders will find that balancing the task of security and providing for quality-of-life improvement projects is very challenging. Leadership at the operational and tactical levels will be the critical ingredient for success with the NGO community. This paper examines the problems of fluid security environments in relation to NGOs. It also provides some defined measures that can improve the NGO-to-commander relationship beyond the present civil affairs model. Some of these suggestions are the result of the author's experience as an Observer Controller at the National Training Center, Civilians on the Battlefield integration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 14, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA463870
Entities
People
- Kenneth W. Scheidt
Organizations
- Naval War College