The Strategic Approach to Operational Planning
Abstract
U.S. military planners continue to avoid focusing on conflict termination and Phase IV operations. Conflict termination and post-conflict operations planning failures highlight the need for a doctrinal paradigm shift that institutionalizes the notion that the decisive, military aspect of a war ends during Phase IV instead of during Phase III. Major combat operations are just enablers. One must not regard the military aspect of proper conflict termination as complete until security and stability operations are complete. A doctrinal transfer of security and stability operations from Phase IV to Phase III would greatly reinforce the "decisive" nature of Phase III. If the tasks of post-conflict operations are potentially violent, the military must perform them, and the military must holistically plan for post-conflict operations as part of Phase III. Postwar campaign planning also must become more interagency in conduct. Joint Pub 5-00.1 should be modified to require the review of campaign plans by the Department of State and other key non-Department of Defense (DoD) agencies as necessary. Despite recent incremental improvements in the interagency process, the existing construct is still too focused on interagency coordination rather than interagency integration. Only the military has the capacity to lead the effort to achieve the desired strategic end-state following military conflict, and doctrine must adapt to force operational planners to face this reality.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 14, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA465009
Entities
People
- Timothy G. Leonard
Organizations
- Naval War College