Religious Missionary Interactions with the United States Military Abroad: How Should the Military Approach These Unique Groups?

Abstract

United States religious missionaries and faith-based non-governmental organizations (NGO) overseas are often perceived as entities that the US military cannot cooperate with during humanitarian or stability and security operations. Missionaries cite church/state restrictions or fear their use as intelligence sources as reasons to avoid cooperation. Examination of US law removes those perceived limitations while Department of Defense publications identify NGOs as legitimate players in the US Government's whole-of-government approach to stability operations. A review of the impact of faith-based organizations generally, and US missionaries specifically, reveals a global presence and legitimate roles they may be considered for as part of the Joint Force Commander's bridge to the host nation community.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA601632

Entities

People

  • John M. Mcclendon

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civil Affairs
  • Department Of Defense
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Health Services
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Intelligence Collection
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • North America
  • Personnel Management
  • Security
  • Stability Operations
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.