1.1.

INTRODUCTION, PRINCIPLES, ENGAGEMENT AND

RESPONSE
THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT OF OPERATION
Military operations today, occur within a complex framework of
environmental factors that shape their nature and affect their
outcomes. This requires a broad understanding of the strategic
and operational environment and their relevance to each mission.
The main characteristics that describe in detail the environment of
an operation are general conditions;
circumstances; and influences that affect the employment of
capabilities and the decisions of the commanders. They include on the
one hand, enemy, adversary, friendly, and neutral system across the
spectrum of conflict analysis, and on the other hand, an understanding
of physical environment, the state of governance, technology, local
resources, and the culture of the local population. Some important
trends that affect land forces operations in a period of many
continuing state of conflict areas include: globalization, technology
development, demographic changes, urbanization, resource
limitations, climate change and associated natural disasters,
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, failed or failing states.
The principal influences refer to:
science and technology, information technology, transportation
technology, the acceleration of the global
economic community, and the rise of a networked society that all
impact the operational environment(i.e. cyber attacks);
crowded environment makes hard to avoid collateral casualties
during hostilities between antagonists, which creates increase distrust
and require largely use of non-lethal tools (the operational
environment become dirty, frightening, physically and emotionally
graining one in which death and destruction result, creating
humanitarian crisis);
with the exception of cyberspace, all operations will be
conducted among the people and outcomes will be measured in
terms of effects on populations;
fluidity, with continually changing coalitions, alliances,

partnerships, and actors. That will require interrelations, joint

operations and comprehensive approach to deal with the wide range of
players occupying the operational environment;
redefinition of the global distribution of power due to lack of
resources or different national interest determiningtransnational
actors;
employ of unconventional or asymmetric methods and means by
some opponents posing irregular threats (i.e. irregular warfare carried
out by terrorism, insurgency, and guerrilla kind actions);
the acquisition, possession, and use of nuclear, biological,
chemical, and radiological weapons that can create catastrophic threats
if used;
broad aspects of the environment, both military and nonmilitary,
that may differ from one operational area to another
that all constitute operational variables. Comprehensive analysis of the
variables usually require joint level of operations;
influence of some political charismatic leaders who use ideas,
beliefs, actions, and violence to enhance their power and control over
people, territory, and resources;
the military variable that includes the military capabilities of all
armed forces in a given operational environment. In many cases, the
land forces are primarily responsible for maintaining internal and
external security. Moreover, the military of other states not directly
involved in a conflict may also affect them.Therefore, analysis should
include the relationship of regional land forces to the other variables,
which refer to capabilities of
enemy, adversary, host-nation, and multinational military
organizations (i.e. equipment, manpower, doctrine, training
levels, resource constraints, leadership, organizational culture, history,
nature of civil-military relations);
the economic variables encompasses individual and group
behaviors related to producing, distributing and consuming
resources(i.e. industrial organizations, trade, finance, monetary policy
and conditions, institutional capabilities);
the social variables include diverse social structures with
relations among groups of persons, institutions, networks, different
share of cultures (i.e. demographics, religion, migration trends,

urbanization, standards of living, literacy and nature of education,

tribal organizations etc.);
information environment depending of the local language and the
system of collecting, disseminating process, while the
telecommunications networks play a significant role. Media
representatives importantly influence the information that shapes the
operational environment. Broadcast and Internet media sources can
rapidly disseminate competing views of military operations
worldwide;
infrastructure comprises the basic facilities, services, and
installations needed for a societys functioning. Degrading
infrastructure can seriously affect operations;
the geography also affects the physical environment (i.e. climate
and weather, topography, hydrology etc.).
Definitely, all these should be taken into account while preparing
an operation, planning it, or setting the training program. But, at the
same time they should not forget that army forces interact with people
at many levels. In general, the people in any operational area can be
categorized as enemies, adversaries, supporters, and neutrals. One
reason land operations are complex is that all four categories are
intermixed, often with
no easy means to distinguish one from another.
They can be defined as follows:
Enemy, being a party identified as hostile against which the use
of force is authorized. An enemy is also called a combatant and is
treated as such under the law of war;
Adversary, being a party acknowledged as potentially hostile to a
friendly party and against which the use of force may be envisaged.
Adversaries include members of the local populace who sympathize
with the enemy;
Supporter, is a party who sympathizes with friendly forces and
who may or may not provide material assistance to them;
Neutral, who is a party identified as neither supporting nor
opposing friendly or enemy forces.
As part of support operations, commanders must understand the
roles and capabilities of civilian organizations in unified actions. At
the same time, most organizations are not under military control

having different organizational cultures and norms. Some may be

willing to work with Army forces; others may not. Thus, personal
contact and trust building are essential and commanders should
establish liaison with civilian organizations to integrate their efforts as
much as possible with Army and joint operations. Apart from the
relationship, civilian organizations bring resources and capabilities
that can help establish host-nation civil authority and capabilities.
However, civilian agencies may arrive well after military operations
have begun. Therefore, joint and Army forces prepare to establish and
maintain order if host-nation authorities cannot do so. Successfully
performing these tasks can help secure a lasting
peace and facilitate the timely fulfill of the military mission.
Some examples of civilian organizations and their definitions, as
follows:
government civilian organizations, within the context of
interagency coordination, can be others than belonging to
Ministry of Defense like Intelligence Agencies or Security Agencies;
intergovernmental organization represents an organization
created by a formal agreement between two or more governments. It
may be established on a global, regional, or functional basis for wideranging or narrowly defined purposes. Formed to protect and promote
national interests shared by member states. Such organizations could
be: UN, EU, NATO, OSCE, AU;
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that represent private,
self-governing, not-for-profit organization dedicated to alleviating
human suffering; and/or promoting education, health care, economic
development, environmental protection, human rights, and conflict
resolution; and/or encouraging the establishment of democratic
institutions and civil society. There is a large number of such
organizations1;
contractor could be a person or business company that provides
products or services for monetary compensation like supplies and
services (life support, construction and engineering support, weapons
systems support, security, technical services).
The sustainment of operations is proved by an international
contribution by many nations creating a multinational environment. A
multinational operation is a collective term to describe military actions

conducted by forces of two or more nations, usually undertaken within

the structure of a coalition or alliance. In multinational operations, all
parties agree to the commitment of forces, even if the resources each
invests are different. While each nation has its own interests, all
nations bring value to the operation. Each national force has unique
capabilities, and each usually contributes to the operations legitimacy
in terms of international or local acceptability. An alliance is the
relationship that results from a formal agreement (i.e., a treaty)
between two or more nations for broad, long-term objectives that
further the common interests of the members. Military alliances, such
as NATO, allow partners to establish formal, standard agreements.
Alliance members strive for interoperability. A coalition is an ad hoc
arrangement between two or more nations for common action. Nations
usually form coalitions for focused, short-term purposes. A coalition
action is a multinational action outside the bounds of established
alliances, usually for single occasions or longer cooperation in a
narrow sector of common interest.
Missions assigned to multinational units should reflect the
capabilities and limitations of each national contingent. Some
significant factors include: relative size and mobility; intelligence
collection assets; long-range fires capabilities; special operations
forces capabilities; ability to contribute to theater air and missile
THE SPECTRUM OF STABILITY OPERATIONS
The spectrum of stability operations is defined to the nature of
conflict and the level of violence involved. The spectrum of conflict
spans from stable peace to general war (stable peace, unstable peace,
insurgency, general war). It also includes intermediate levels of
unstable peace and insurgency. In practice, violent conflict does not
proceed smoothly from unstable peace through insurgency to general
war and back again. Rather, general war and insurgencies often spark
additional violence within a region, creating broad areas of instability.
Additionally, the level of violence may jump fromone point on the
spectrum to another. For example, unstable peace may erupt into
general war, or general war may end abruptly in unstable peace.
Therefore, the four levels are not an exclusive set. Nonetheless, the

spectrum of conflict provides a tool to understand and visualize the

level of violence e\and the corresponding role of the military in
resolving a conflict.
Stable peace is characterized by the absence of militarily significant
violence. Activities of international actors (such as states,
corporations, and nongovernmental organizations) are confined to
peaceful interaction in politics, economics, and other areas of interest.
Peaceful interaction may include intense competition as well as
cooperation and assistance. While tensions do exist, all recognize that
their interests are best achieved by means other than violence.
Unstable peace reflects when one or more parties threaten or use
violence to achieve their objectives, stable peace
degenerates into unstable peace. Unstable peace may also result when
violence levels decrease after violent conflict. Preventing a return to
violent conflict may require peace operations. Sometimes stable peace
is not immediately achievable. The goal of conflict termination is
establishing conditions in which peace operations can prevent conflict
from recurring and allowing the instruments of national power to work
toward stable peace.
Insurgency represents an organized movement aimed at the
overthrow of a constituted government through use of
subversion and armed conflict. Insurgencies often include widespread
use of irregular forces and terrorist tactics. An insurgency may
develop in the aftermath of general war or through degeneration of
unstable peace. Insurgencies may also emerge on their own from
chronic social or economic conditions or even escalate from protracted
insurgencies into general war. Intervention by a foreign power in an
insurgency may increase the threat to regional stability.
General war is armed conflict between major powers in which the
total resources of the belligerents are employed, and the national
survival of a major belligerent is in jeopardy. General war usually
involves nation-states and coalitions.
However, civil wars may reach this level of violence. In general war,
large and heavily armed conventional forces fight for military
supremacy by conducting major combat operations. These operations
aim to defeat the enemys armed forces and eliminate the enemys
military capability. These conflicts are dominated by large-scale

conventional operations but often include guerrilla and unconventional

warfare.
In order to achieve a successful mission, a commander must
continuously evaluate and adapt their tactics to ensure that are
appropriate to the evolving operational environment. Recent
experience demonstrates the difficulty and cost of fighting terrorists
and insurgents while supporting reconstruction efforts.
The study of the conflict evolution revealed a number of requirements
for a commander when prepare for future
operations:
all major operations combine offensive, defensive, and stability
elements executed simultaneously at different echelons;
the operational environment evolves over time and changes due
to military operations;
operations conducted during one phase of a campaign or major
operation directly affect subsequent phases. Commanders should
conduct operations in a manner that sets the conditions necessary for
future operations, and ultimately allowing the other instruments of
national power to secure a stable peace;
major operations are conducted not only to defeat the enemy but
also to restore a stable peace. The military plays a
large role in this effort, even after major combat operations have
ended. Restoring a stable peace after a violent conflict may take
longer and be more difficult than defeating enemy forces;
in any campaign or major operation, changing conditions require
Land forces to adapt their tactics, techniques, and
procedures to the operational environment.
As a consequence, a major operation could be defined as a series of
tactical actions (battles, engagements, and strikes)
conducted by combat forces of a single or several Services,
coordinated in time and place, to achieve strategic or operational
objectives in an operational area.
A classification of todays operations can be reflected by grouping
in four main categories: peace time military
engagement, limited intervention; peace operations and irregular
warfare, detailed as follows:
Peace time military engagement consists of:

 multinational training events and exercises;

security assistance;
joint combined exchange training;
recovery operations;
arms control;
counter-drug activities.
Limited interventions are:
noncombatant evacuation operations;
strike;
raid;
show of f+orce;
foreign humanitarian assistance;
consequence management;
sanction enforcement;
elimination of weapons of mass destruction.
Peace operations as follows:
peace keeping;
peace building;
peace making;
peace enforcement;
conflict prevention.
Irregular warfare can be nominated according to the last
experiences such as:
support to insurgency;
counterinsurgency;
combating terrorism;
unconventional warfare.
This is a broad spectrum of military and paramilitary operations,
normally of long duration, predominantly conducted through, with, or
by indigenous or surrogate forces that are organized, trained,
equipped, supported, and directed in varying degrees by an external
source. It includes, but is not limited to, guerrilla warfare, subversion,
sabotage, intelligence activities, and unconventional assisted recovery.
It is to be noted that many of the defined types of operations can be
met combined in only one major operation. Army forces operate
anywhere along the spectrum of conflict, from peacetime military
engagement in areas of stable peace to major combat operations

during general war.

What is the Place of Stability and Support Operations within the
Full Spectrum Operations?
Full Spectrum Operations (FSO) is those operations that include
simultaneous combinations of four elements: offense,
defense, and stability or support. Each primary task has numerous
associated subordinate tasks. When combined with who? (unit),
when? (time), where? (location), and why? (purpose), the primary
tasks become mission statement. In the case of Stability and Support
Operations (SSO) the primary tasks and purposes are, as follows:
Stability Operations:
Primary Tasks:
civil security;
civil control;
restore essential services;
support to governance;
supporttoeconomicandinfrastructure
development.
Purposes:
provide a secure environment;
secure land areas;
meet the critical needs of the populace;
gain support for host-nation government;
shape the environment for interagency and hostnation success.
As a conclusion to that the Armys operational concept, FSO
describes how Army forces conduct operations. The complex nature of
the operational environment requires commanders to simultaneously
combine offensive, defensive, and stability or civil support tasks to
accomplish missions domestically and abroad. Each element of FSO
includes a basic set of tasks and related purposes. Mission command
directs the application of
full spectrum operations to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative and
achieve decisive results.