Coordination Without Borders Assigning US Military Officers to NGO World Headquarters: Rhetoric and Reality

Abstract

Abstract : The lack of coordination outlined in the US Institute for Peace's (USIP's) Guide for Participants in Peace, Stability, and Relief Operations primer is the driving force behind this monograph and its title. Coordination without is a variation of the title of the respected Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) medical assistance nongovernmental organization (NGO). The Department of Defense (DoD) could meet the challenge of coordinating military operations with NGOs' operations and increasing NGO access and security by assigning officers to NGOs' world headquarters. Since 1995, every US military campaign has included significant stability, support, transition and reconstruction (SSTR) operations. During US military operations in the Afghanistan and Iraq operational theaters, military campaign plans and operations have included simultaneous combat and SSTR operations. During Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom (or since 2001), the US Department of Defense has led simultaneous combat and Stability, Support, Transition and Reconstruction (SSTR) operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq. As the lead campaign organization (vice the US Department of State, NATO, the European Union or United Nations), and despite having similar near-term objectives, military commanders have limited success working with NGOs. Effective DoD and NGO coordination and synchronization at high levels could improve both military stability and NGO operations' effectiveness. This monograph also addresses US military officer assignment courses of action that may facilitate improving DoD and NGO unity of effort.