Exploring the Combat Potential of Financial Managers as Expeditionary Bankers in the Contemporary Operating Environment
Abstract
At the operational level of war, during stability operations, little is done to link strategic and tactical economic objectives together. Using the host nation's banking system, the operational commander can nest economic objectives in a coordinated line of effort. Consequently, operational commanders should leverage the untapped potential of their uniformed financial managers to orchestrate economic objectives by cultivating the host nation's banking system as a framework to strengthen economic security and synchronize cash payments within an area of operation. Following this methodology, operational commanders can leverage the non-lethal effects provided by financial managers as an offensive capability instead of exclusively employing financial managers in traditional sustainment roles. While critics may argue that the U.S. Treasury is better suited to develop the host nation banking system, this paper illustrates that security constraints, insufficient capacity, and command bifurcation significantly hamper the U.S. Treasury's ability to achieve operational-level economic objectives. Operational commanders executing stability operations can target economic objectives by accomplishing five sequential steps in the host nation banking system. First, physically secure the banks. Second, embed financial managers to mentor bank employees to increase efficiency and utility of the banking system. Third, use the banks to disburse local currency for U.S. payments to vendors and citizens. Fourth, leverage the banks to track currency found with insurgents to discover financial links. Fifth, as conditions permit, upgrade the capacity of the banking system to include electronic banking. This last step will amplify physical security by removing cash from the area of operation, encourage foreign investment by moving the banking system toward international standards, and further enable the United States to leverage forensic accounting by observing fund flow to suspected enemies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 04, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA503199
Entities
People
- Cody L. Zilhaver
Organizations
- Naval War College