What Else Should Our Military Forces Be Doing? The Benefits of Participating in Military Operations Other Than War

Abstract

Abstract : The United States is the only remaining super-power in the post-Cold War era. Even without a major threat, the U.S. has nevertheless been confronted with a number of difficult situations requiring the use of military forces. Involvement in these Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) raises questions regarding the wisdom of expending political capital, national treasure and human resources in endeavors which supposedly atrophy the readiness and adequacy of U.S. combat capabilities. Moreover, some feel that many of these operations serve no vital national security interests. This paper takes the opposite view and explores the military benefits of participating in MOOTW by illustrating how many of the tasks performed by military units are commensurate to those performed in combat. Due to the immense body of knowledge in this area, only specific elements of operational art, illustrated with vignettes, will be examined. It focuses on strategic lift and command and control in operations in the Balkans and Somalia. Training and Rules of Engagement in U.S. counterdrug operations will also be examined. Finally, the impact and importance of lessons learned and their relevancy to future - MOOTW and combat operations will be analyzed.