The Army's Green Warriors: Environmental Considerations in Contingency Operations
Abstract
The U.S. Army has much to gain by carefully integrating environmental considerations into operational concepts, plans, and procedures during contingency operations. Evidence from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts suggests that a shift to a comprehensive approach to environmental considerations that encompasses policy, culture, planning, training, and investment -- and emphasizes sustainability -- can boost overall mission success. This will be particularly important during stability operations and reconstruction. Environmental considerations encompass anything related to the environment that either affects the planning and execution of military operations, positively or negatively, or is affected by those operations. They include environmental conditions affecting soldier health; clean water, sewage, and other environmentally related infrastructures; compliance with environmental laws; pollution prevention and environmental management; protection of historical and cultural sites; sustainability; and management of agricultural and natural resources. The brief is divided into the following topic areas: How Environmental Considerations Can Affect Combat Operations; How Environmental Considerations Can Affect Stability Operations, Reconstruction, and Nation-Building; Several Factors Characterize the Army's Current Approach to the Environment during Contingencies; A Comprehensive Approach to the Environment Will Boost Overall Mission Success, Especially in the Post-Conflict Phase; and The Building Blocks of a Comprehensive Approach.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA487282
Entities
Organizations
- RAND Corporation