War Termination and the Joint Force Commander.

Abstract

Abstract : Doctrine guides the Joint Force Commander (JFC) in planning and executing joint and combined campaigns and major operations. Valid and complete doctrine helps the JFC master the art of war to achieve a war's political objectives. Theorists contend war termination 'epitomizes the relationship between political aims, military strategy, and operational design.' As the link between the strategic and operational level of war, the JFC needs to master the art of war termination. After the Gulf War, several theorists recommended improvements to our doctrine concerning war termination in three broad areas: the JFC's role as the strategic-operational link the political and military interface where national strategic objectives are translated into military strategy as part of the operational design during campaign planning; guidance for the JFC regarding negotiations-the bridge between hostilities and peace; and doctrinal recommendations for planning post-hostility operations-where military operations yield to other forms of national power to win a better peace by achieving the strategic goal or end state. Analysis of the Gulf War in these three areas provides a good accounting how the JFC applied art of war termination in developing an operational design and a campaign plan; executing the plan; negotiating a cease-fire; and planning and executing post-hostility operations. The analysis indicates the lack of a synchronized political and military end state produced an ambiguous strategic victory in the Gulf War. However, a review of doctrine indicates the Gulf War's lessons learned have been incorporated to the most recent revisions. Nonetheless, further study and improvement of joint doctrine will ensure we are ready for the next war.