The Combined Action Program Revisited

Abstract

During the Vietnam conflict, senior Marine Corps leadership recognized the need for a strategy oriented toward guerilla warfare. As the United States finds itself embroiled in the Global War on Terrorism, the Marine Corps should look to the past to find effective methods of combating the current enemy threat. The Combined Action Program (CAP) employed by the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam proved highly effective in combating unconventional threats similar to those now faced in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lt General Lewis Walt summarized the contribution of the CAP appropriately and offered a fitting prediction: "Of all our innovations in Vietnam none was as successful, as lasting in effect, or as useful for the future as the Combined Action Program." The results of the CAP were a commitment and trust fostered between the local populace and United States forces. In turn, this denied the insurgency the one thing that it needed to survive -- popular support. Current operating environments demand the same resolution.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 08, 2005
Accession Number
ADA505617

Entities

People

  • B. W. Graham

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan
  • Combat Operations
  • Fire Support
  • Flight Decks
  • Governments
  • International Organizations
  • Iraqi-War
  • Marine Corps
  • New York
  • Security
  • Social Sciences
  • Training
  • United States
  • Vietnam
  • Vietnam War
  • War
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.