Peacetime Engagement: A Role for Military Advisors?
Abstract
The Armed Forces are increasingly being called upon to intervene in complex emergencies. The requirements for personnel, resources, and readiness, in particular in military operations other than war, demand a more proactive approach to threat reduction. Necessity will drive earlier and smarter interventions aimed at accomplishing the same long-term goals as current involvements, but with fewer assets and less commitment. This article argues that it is time to reconsider a tool rarely used in peacetime military engagement: the full-time military advisor. It proposes advisory efforts for two nations in the Pacific region. Early preventive intervention in such states could efficiently accomplish long-term security objectives. National military strategy refers to early intervention as shaping the environment, but thus far this approach has not proven very successful. From drugs to terrorism to nuclear proliferation, the world is becoming more dangerous. Yet the role of military advisors in providing host country militaries with the means to combat such threats commands little attention. The legacy of Vietnam, coupled with concern over force protection, makes many civilian officials and senior officers wary of sending advisors in harm's way. As a result, the United States is missing out on opportunities to help unstable nations not become failed states. Sri Lanka and Cambodia are cases in point. The stigma of military advisory efforts is unwarranted when compared with their potential benefit. Countries such as Cambodia and Sri Lanka may manage their problems indefinitely; but while the survival of these states may not be threatened, the danger to other countries, including the United States, is growing. An effective preventive engagement program for countries at risk would go a long way in minimizing the danger from transnational threats and contributing to democratization.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA530842
Entities
People
- Paul Marks
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College