Relating Operational Art to the National Guard State Partnership Program
Abstract
The National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP) has the potential, at the partnership level, to serve as an operational level integration point for whole of society efforts with their partnered countries. The National Guard partnerships currently serve as a tactical means to achieve a strategic goal but there are more potential resources at the state level that the nation could leverage. The dual role of the National Guard as a traditional national defense force and as a state controlled defense force makes it inherently suited for a whole-of-society effort. It is logical to provide the National Guard partnerships with the authority and resources to influence the operational level and leverage the entirety of resources within their states. The assessment of the overall SPP strategy combined with the individual case study of the Missouri National Guard partnership with the Republic of Panama confirmed an opportunity for operational art at the partnership level. Given the authority and dedicated operational level staff, the SPP could link whole of society tactical actions at the partnership level toward achieving a greater strategic impact in support of the Geographic Combatant Commands. The National Guard's operational level integration of whole-of-society resources presents an opportunity to deepen the country planning dialogue with the GCC, increase staff training opportunities for the National Guard, and provide the appropriate capabilities to build partnered nation capacity through unified action.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 15, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA612137
Entities
People
- Matthew C. Giblin
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College