Green Warriors: Army Environmental Considerations for Contingency Operations from Planning through Post-Conflict
Abstract
Environmental issues have become increasingly important in contingency operations the U.S. Army conducts overseas. Countries in which the Army conducts operations tend to have environmental problems caused by industrialization, lack of environmental protection, long-running conflict, and natural conditions. This situation creates health and safety risks for soldiers, can affect missions, and can increase the importance of life-sustaining environmental infrastructures for such things as clean water, sewage disposal, and agriculture. Prompted by the growing importance of environmental considerations in military operations, the Army Environmental Policy Institute (AEPI) asked RAND to examine how the Army approaches this issue in overseas contingency operations, particularly during the post-conflict and reconstruction phases. It also asked RAND to identify existing problems and gaps in policy, doctrine, and guidance and to propose solutions the Army could adopt to address them. The report concludes that environmental considerations -- including clean water, sanitation, hazardous-waste management -- can be important for achieving overall U.S. objectives during reconstruction and post-conflict operations, including stability. If not properly addressed in planning or operations, environmental considerations can increase the costs of an operation and make it more difficult for the Army to sustain the mission. Yet, environmental considerations are not well incorporated into Army planning or operations. To address these shortcomings, the Army should take additional steps to ensure that environmental considerations are incorporated into planning, operations, training, and research. Appendix A reviews domestic and international law related to environmental considerations in Army contingency operations. Appendix B summarizes the findings from public-opinion surveys of the local populace in Iraq. The 111 case studies are listed in detail in Appendix C.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA487920
Entities
People
- Beth E. Lachman
- Brian Rosen
- David E. Mosher
- Henry H. Willis
- Michael D. Greenberg
- Tiffany Nichols
Organizations
- RAND Corporation