Operational Design for Peace Enforcement: Lessons for the Operational Staff

Abstract

Abstract : U.S. involvement in Somalia serves as a useful case study of the unique challenges an operational staff may face when applying operational design to the planning and execution of a peace enforcement operation. U.S. and UN strategic aims were not achieved in Somalia. The root problem was a lack of emphasis on what is known today in joint doctrine as operational design. When planning and executing a peace enforcement operation, the Commander, Joint Task Force and his staff must use operational design in order to create a campaign plan that achieves strategic objectives. Peace enforcement operations may require combat. Planning such missions must include the key elements of operational design: understanding strategic guidance, identification of critical factors, and development of the operational concept. The absence of the key elements of operational design in the planning and execution of operations in Somalia had a direct bearing on the outcome achieved.