Effectiveness of Interagency Cooperation at the Provincial Reconstruction Team Level in Afghanistan

Abstract

Provincial Reconstruction Teams were created as a means of extending the reach of the Afghan government outside. Kabul. Today they serve as the primary interface between the coalition and Afghan provincial and local governments. PRT's illustrate the need for effective, integrated action to achieve government-wide "unity of effort" in complex contingency operations. The PRT concept currently in operation in Afghanistan is characteristic of the United States continual focus on the military arm of national power while under resourcing the diplomatic and development instruments of national power. The principle challenges facing the PRT today include a military dominated organizational structure, resourcing shortfalls, lack of unity of effort among the different agencies that compose the PRT, and lack of unity of command from the tactical to the strategic level. Until a fundamental shift from hard to soft power occurs, the interagency stovepipes within the PRT structure will continue to hinder its effectiveness.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 07, 2011
Accession Number
ADA600831

Entities

People

  • Christopher B. Mcarthur

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civilian Personnel
  • Command And Control
  • Department Of State
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Lessons Learned
  • Local Governments
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Second World War
  • United States
  • Vietnam War
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.