Securing America through Security Force Assistance
Abstract
Our National Security Strategy (NSS) identifies the need to bolster failing states and to continue to build on the strong relations we have with our world partners. In the NSS, the President strongly emphasizes that the failure of other governments to provide a secure environment for their people has a global impact that directly threatens the American people. The Department of Defense (DoD) must continue to develop flexible options to meet the strategic security ends of our civilian leaders. DoD has, and will have, a wide range of means to apply to security force assistance. Future security force assistance delivery and execution will probably differ in part from past operations, but it will still provide our nation with the ability to shape the global security environment for the better and secure Americans and American interests. This paper will analyze, compare, and contrast historical case studies with strategic guidance and doctrine. The case studies focus on the Vietnam War and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The security force assistance operations in Vietnam differed significantly from the security force assistance operations in Afghanistan. In Vietnam, General Westmoreland ran a conventional campaign that conflicted with security force assistance efforts. South Vietnamese troops dealt with antiquated equipment, corrupt leaders, and were not the main effort. In contrast, Afghan National Army forces received the newest fleet of NATO equipment and were the main effort. Concerted U.S. and coalition effort focused on countering corruption in the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) as well as Afghan governing institutions. Lessons learned from combat experiences in Vietnam and Afghanistan prove that commanders at all levels must synchronize direct action forces with the security force assistance units and host nation forces. Based on these experiences, all security force operations must be synchronized throughout all operational phases.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 22, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA560681
Entities
People
- Steven E. Bapp
Organizations
- United States Army War College