Building Indigenous Security Forces in the Face of an Insurgency: Vietnam
Abstract
The United States faced a terrible set of problems when it attempted to build up South Vietnam's ability to defend itself. South Vietnam was in turmoil between 1963 and 1966; political factions were more concerned with governmental power and self-preservation than they were with securing the country against communist insurgents. The central government bore more of a resemblance to a warlord's court than it did to a nascent democracy. Leaders within the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) preoccupied themselves more with perks and casualty avoidance than with fighting the enemy. U.S. leaders reacted with disdain and contempt, and became much more directive in the war, not only with their decision to introduce massive numbers of U.S. ground troops in 1965, but also with their decision to act more as the ARVN troop commanders they were assisting than as advisors endeavoring to produce effective, independent-thinking officers. Later in the war, however, the two allies achieved some notable successes against the insurgency. The Marines achieved significant successes using Combined Action Platoons. To field such a unit, a few Marines would not only provide training and leadership to a platoon of rural militia, they lived with them in their village. This made it possible for Marines to build bonds of trust with locals. By patrolling at night they also threatened the insurgents' most precious sanctuary -- rural areas under the cover of darkness. Local militias, in concert with larger units of the ARVN and the Marine Corps, were able to gain back more and more of the populated areas of Vietnam from the communists. Police forces are a critical element in combating insurgents. Citizens are more inclined to help the police when they know that they will be protected from insurgents' reprisals. Vietnam provides several lessons for establishing effective indigenous security forces, be they local militias, local police, or professional national army soldiers, like the ARVN.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA475900
Entities
People
- Michael R. Weaver
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College