Civil-military Coordination Research Articles

Civil-Military Coordination in Disaster Preparedness and Response

AbstractThis paper identifies common civil-military coordination challenges in disaster preparedness and the response among actors who operate at the regional, national, and international levels. T...

Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC) Model in Natural Disasters in Iran.

Objective:The present study aimed at codifying a native model of civil-military coordination (CIMIC) in natural disasters in Iran.Methods:This manuscript is a part of a larger study. The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 using a two-stage Delphi technique. The factors confirmed by the technique were prioritized via a pairwise questionnaire. In doing so, 24 elites and experts in civil-military coordination were presented with the indicators in the course of classic Delphi technique and pairwise comparison. At the end, the nationalized model was finalized by sending the model to ten experts and asking their ideas.Results:The results obtained from the two rounds of Delphi indicated that 36 coordination factors could be classified into three primary classes of staff, stuff, and system. All factors were confirmed by the experts. Considering the weight of each class, “staff” and “stuff” classes were considered to be the highest and lowest priorities, respectively.Conclusion:Application of the coordination factors in the context of military and civil organizations leads to a better response to natural disasters. The organizations in charge of responding to disasters should be obliged to apply this model in the highest organizational commitment level as the final goals of disaster management. The results of the present study can be applied for codification of a comprehensive plan for assessing the civil-military coordination in natural disasters.

Civil-military coordination of public health response to urban disasters in Malaysia

Introduction. Direct and indirect impacts of disasters and emergencies on public health and health care systems, and the use of health outcomes as indicators of the effectiveness of disaster management activities highlight the importance of the role health sector plays in all phases of disaster management cycle. In Malaysia, several gaps have been identified with regards to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, including lack of coordination between agencies, and most of the agencies focusing on the preparedness and response phases. 
 The purpouse of this narrative review was to obtain a broad appreciation of the extent of the research literature on the role of civil-military coordination during the disaster events in urban settings, particularly in the context of public health response to disasters and emergencies, and a broad understanding of any clear evidence which may have policy implications for KL, Malaysia.
 Materials and methods. This study is a narrative review of literature on civil-military coordination of public health response to urban disasters in Malaysia. The databases that were individually searched included PubMed, PsychINFO and Pre-CINAHL. Google Scholar was also searched.
 Results. The results of this study highlighted the importance of developing proactive approaches to public health and disasters as opposed to a general reactive approach. Ultimately, by establishing efficient partnership with the military as one of the key stakeholders, through civil-military coordination, an enhanced response to public health implications of disasters and emergencies can be achieved. 
 Conclusions. Optimizing multi-sectoral approach, interoperability and coordination of civil-military capabilities to address health-related impacts of disasters is especially important in the dense and complex urban setting of Kuala Lumpur (KL) metropolitan area.

Complex nature of humanitarian crisis: Unique dynamics of civil military relations in Nepal

The Nepali Army in its vital role in humanitarian assistance and disaster response operation in Nepal receives reputation the world wide. Nepal is prone to disaster risk and the majority of people are living in vulnerable situation. Every year Nepal is facing different types of disasters that caused massive loss of lives and properties. Nepal has not been able to prepare any other viable alternatives in the civil society, so there is no other choice than utilizing military or security forces during any disasters. The Nepali Army has vast inbuilt resources to mobilize its troops effectively in any parts of the country. However, timely and effective disaster response is very difficult due to numerous constraints and complexities. Difficult terrain, limited road communication, inadequate resources and insufficient response capacity are prime reasons that make response operations very challenging. The Army together with other security agencies is performing role as per the given mandate articulated in act, rules, framework and guidelines. In this situation, building civil-military coordination mechanism can be an effective means to respond to the disaster. As a matter of fact, a comprehensive disaster army should continue dialogue, training and exercise with foreign militaries for better understanding and learning through experience. Despite the Nepali Army’s spectacular capability to disaster response, there is a debate whether the military is a right institution to involve in the humanitarian response operations. However, keeping in mind Nepal’s reality without compromising primary role of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national independence, the Nepali Army should enhance its capability to save lives and property from disasters and hazards.

Civil-Military Coordination in Natural Disasters: A Qualitative Study

Background: A large number of natural disasters, including floods and earthquakes, occur in Iran annually. Recognition of the factors influencing the civil-military coordination in natural disasters is amongst the prerequisites in disaster management. Experts’ perspectives towards coordination in these disasters can also be indicative of the importance of this subject. Given the fact that no studies have been carried out regarding the relationship between the civil and military forces in the aftermath of natural disasters in Iran, these factors can be recognized according to individuals’ and experts’ viewpoints. Objectives: The present study aimed at extracting the factors influencing the civil-military coordination in the course of natural disasters in Iran through interviewing experts in 2019. Methods: The present qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured and in-depth interviews with 20 key informants who were selected via snowball, convenience, and purposive sampling methods. A session was also held with the presence of the panel of experts. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis in order to extract the factors influencing the civil-military coordination in natural disasters in Iran. Results: The factors influencing the coordination between the military and civil organizations were categorized into personnel, stuff, and system issues (structure). In addition, 33 subcategories were also identified. The specialists emphasized that holding instructional courses and regular and periodic exercises could enhance coordination in response to disasters. Conclusions: The present study showed that coordination between civil and military organizations in the management of natural disasters in Iran is faced with many challenges that should be overcome and reduced through providing organizational, political, and structural supports. Recognition of the factors influencing coordination can be effective in line with the correct management of natural disasters. Furthermore, organizations can be made readier for taking better measures in disasters according to the extracted factors. In order to provide a proper response to natural disasters, all coordination components should be elevated simultaneously and coherently.

Civil–Military Coordination

In most of today’s crises, humanitarian organisations operate in the same environment as a range of military and non-state armed actors. The effective engagement between militaries and humanitarian aid agencies can be beneficial for the timely delivery of aid and is also often unavoidable when trying to gain access to areas controlled by military or non-state armed actors. However, such engagement also comes with risks. Previous literature on the subject has described some of the benefits and potential risks of different types of engagement between military and humanitarian actors. To date, however, quantifiable data on how civil–military engagement unfolds and which factors influence the effectiveness of coordination is lacking. This paper proposes an indicator framework for measuring the effectiveness of civil–military coordination in humanitarian response. It provides nineteen descriptive level and twenty perception and effectiveness indicators that may be used at any stage of a response to a humanitarian emergency, from mission planning and assessment through the various stages of a response and post-response assessment. The full set of questions, or a more targeted subset of these questions, may also be used as periodic polls to actively monitor developments in theatre.

Conceptualising humanitarian civil-military partnerships in the Asia-Pacific: (Re-)ordering cooperation

ABSTRACTThe Asia-Pacific is a dynamic region that is exposed to multiple natural hazards. This article explores how recent developments have influenced the relationship between civilian and military actors in the Asia-Pacific to facilitate an improvement in humanitarian civil–military coordination to assist and protect disaster-affected communities. It investigates civilian and military engagement in disaster preparedness and response activities in the Asia-Pacific, and draws on the literature on civil–military relations and technical reports to further conceptualise these. This article analyses the 4Cs of disaster partnering in humanitarian civil–military partnerships in the Asia-Pacific—(1) Coexistence/Communication, (2) Cooperation, (3) Coordination, (4) Collaboration [Martin, E., I. Nolte, and E. Vitolo. 2016. “The Four Cs of Disaster Partnering: Communication, Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration.” Disasters 40 (4): 621–643]. It argues that the Regional HADR Coordination Centre (RHCC), UN Cluster System, the Regional Consultative Group on Humanitarian Civil–Military Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (RCG), and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) centric mechanisms are illustrative of different orders of disaster partnering that are best understood as a combination of distinct and sequential activities. Through a clearer conceptualisation of humanitarian civil–military partnerships in the Asia-Pacific, this article aims to provide more informed expectations on what these partnerships may or may not deliver.

Humanitarian Assistance and International Law (2018)

This report provides an overview of humanitarian assistance during 2018 and analyses key normative texts published, including: the fourth edition of the Sphere Handbook: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response; UNOCHA's Recommended Practices for Effective Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination of Foreign Military Assets (FMA) in Natural and Man-Made Disasters; and the outcomes of the Global Humanitarian Policy Forum. The report also discusses cases of serious sexual exploitation committed by humanitarian workers which were reported during 2018.

Civil Military Relation and Stabilization in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Pakistan


 
 
 The importance of civil military relations assumes seminal importance in ensuring the success of all phases of a counter insurgency campaign. In the true tradition of the Clausewitzian dictum that war is the continuation of policy and vice versa; Pakistan Army has been employed as a matter of policy in counter insurgency operations in the erstwhile tribal areas. They have also been used in the stabilization operations to bring about normality in the insurgency ridden areas. In fact the employment of Pakistan Army in the stabilization process defies any previous example in any other country. In all phases of the conflict cycle, the military has worked hand in glove with its civilian counterparts. The civil-military coordination (CIMIC) in the insurgency ridden areas has taken place within the framework of the established ground rules of an organized counter insurgency campaign. It would not be unfair to say that the return to normality in the erstwhile FATA has only been possible because of a well-knit CIMIC architecture. This paper briefly explicates the salient points of the CIMIC aspect of the counter and post-insurgency part of the operations in the conflict zones and highlights the importance of this aspect of dealing with insurgencies.
 
 

Search and Rescue System in Poland

Abstract On 25th of January 2018 Civil and Military Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) commenced operations in Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA). PANSA increased significantly its contribution in the domain of coordination of search and rescue activities in ASAR service in the Polish area of responsibility. Up to this date all tasks of ARCC Centre were conducted mainly by Armed Forces of Republic of Poland, which performed coordination function in ASAR (Aeronautical Search and Rescue) service. The bodies responsible were Aeronautical Search And Rescue Centre located in Air Operations Centre – Air Component Headquarter in Warsaw and sub-centre in Gdynia, part of Naval Operations Centre of Naval Component Headquarter. According to international commitments resulting mainly from Convention on International Civil Aviation signed on 7th of December 1944 in Chicago and ratified by Poland together with Annex 12 “Search And Rescue”, Poland committed to establish aeronautical search and rescue service called ASAR within Polish region and to assure its operation. ASAR service is the only service in Poland for rescue purposes and is designated to search and rescue of aircraft in distress, provision of help for aircraft crews and passengers and other victims of aeronautical accidents (regardless to nationality of these aircraft and persons). ASAR service tasks include search of designated area to find location of aircraft and victims of aeronautical accidents, determination of their status and commencement of rescue actions at the location using dedicated forces and measures as well as forces and measures of another systems, mainly from State Medical Rescue, National Firefighting and Rescue System and Maritime Search and Rescue Service. ASAR service consists of: a)commanding element – Civil-Military Aeronautical Rescue and Coordination Centre, b)executive elements – Aeronautical Search and Rescue Teams (LZPR), and c)supporting elements – alerting points (air traffic services units operating in the framework of alerting service).

Civil-Military Coordination in Peacebuilding: The Obstacle in Somalia

The complex nature of peacebuilding as an instrument of conflict resolution has increasingly collided the military and the civilian actors to share the same field of operation, thereby undermining the independence, impartiality and neutrality of either the military or the civilian actors. Despite the fact the military has often accentuated the need for “correspondence”, the civilian actors have conveyed concern regarding the effect of civil-military coordination on the capacity to remain independent, neutral and impartial in undertaking their main functions. This paper examines the cultural, organizational, operational and normative factors that condition the approaches of the civilian actors such as nongovernmental organizations and the military actors toward the civil-military coordination. This paper also discusses the obstacles to the (CIMIC) and offers more effective recommendations for enhancing the civil-military coordination (CIMIC) in order to achieve the economic, political and security order sought in the Somalia peacebuilding process.

Relationship between Civil and Military in Disaster Response and Recovery

In recent years, military and civil agencies play an important role in disaster response and recovery. These include an increase in the scale and incident of natural disasters, a concurrent trend towards militarization of humanitarian response in conflict situations and increased interest in disaster response on the part of military. Hence, the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and civil agencies play an effective role to ensure the effectiveness of managing the disaster response in that area. The objective of this study is to know the problems faced by the Malaysian Armed Forces and Civil Agencies in Sarawak. This study is to examine the civil-military cooperation between the Malaysian Armed Forces and civil agencies during the disaster, to examine the civil-military coordination in disaster management, and to examine the civil-military activities between armed forces and civil agencies and the activities carried out by the army and civil agencies and also the challenges faced during the response and recovery in disaster management. This study is based on qualitative research method through interviews and focus group discussion involving the military infantry unit at 11 Royal Malay Regiment, 13 Royal Malay Regiment, 3 Royal Ranger Regiment, and 10 Royal Ranger Regiment in Sarawak. There are also problems such as disagreement between the military and civil agency that weakened their professional relationship. It is important for the military and civil agency to have a good relationship in order to work together in managing the disaster.

The EU’s role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding: four key challenges

ABSTRACTOver the past two decades, the European Union (EU) has become increasingly involved in preventing conflict and promoting sustainable peace beyond its borders. The EU’s potential to contribute to conflict prevention and peacebuilding is said to be particularly promising given the wide range of instruments and resources that can be mobilised under the EU’s external action. Yet, the EU continues to face key four key challenges in this area: (1) bridging the early warning-response gap; (2) improving cooperation with other international partners in conflict prevention and peacebuilding; (3) enhancing civil–military coordination; and (4) ensuring local ownership. This article introduces these four issues which frame the articles in this Forum. By addressing these four challenges, this Forum sheds light not only on the EU’s role and limitations as a peacebuilding actor, but also on how other international actors might learn from the EU’s engagement in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

Civil–military synergies in EU crisis response and peacebuilding: a framework for analysis

ABSTRACTResponding to New Wars, international organizations have faced challenges in increasing synergies between civilian and military instruments. This paper analyses civil-military synergies as a logical framework outcome of coordination and asks to what degree activities of civil-military coordination in EU external action has led to synergies on the ground. It provides a conceptual framework tackling three distinct conceptual challenges; (1) providing a typology of interfaces to articulate civil-military research scope(s), (2) delimiting the “civil-military”, and (3) defining civil-military synergy vis-á-vis coordination. The framework is applied in a case study of EU engagements under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) focusing on EU’s operational level during the execution phase. It finds that EU’s siloed command structure hampers coordination between instruments to a degree where civil-military synergies are more common with external partners than between CSDP instruments, and that open mandates to coordinate with “relevant actors” are vulnerable to personal interpretations.

Enhancing Global Health Security: US Africa Command's Disaster Preparedness Program.

US Africa Command's Disaster Preparedness Program (DPP), implemented by the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine, partnered with US Government agencies and international organizations to promote stability and security on the African continent by engaging with African Partner Nations' (PN) civil and military authorities to improve disaster management capabilities. From 2008 to 2015, DPP conducted disaster preparedness and response programming with 17 PNs. DPP held a series of engagements with each, including workshops, strategic planning, developing preparedness and response plans, tabletop exercises, and prioritizing disaster management capability gaps identified through the engagements. DPP partners collected data for each PN to further capacity building efforts. Thus far, 9 countries have completed military pandemic plans, 10 have developed national pandemic influenza plans, 9 have developed military support to civil authorities plans, and 11 have developed disaster management strategic work plans. There have been 20 national exercises conducted since 2009. DPP was cited as key in implementation of Ebola response plans in PNs, facilitated development of disaster management agencies in DPP PNs, and trained nearly 800 individuals. DPP enhanced PNs' ability to prepare and respond to crises, fostering relationships between international agencies, and improving civil-military coordination through both national and regional capacity building. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:319-329).

Managing military involvement in emergency preparedness in developed countries

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse supply chain network management (SCNM) in the context of emergency preparedness management (EPM). The results of this study revealed that civil-military relations are essential for EPM to function as a coordinated approach to safety and security, and are necessary to respond effectively to complex emergencies and mitigating threats to developed countries. Civil-military relations are still a concern in the context of communication, the exercise of authority, and the coordination of emergency supplies (ES) to emergency operations. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study is based on field observations, with attention focused on the EPM of Sweden, Finland, and Poland. The analysis of a broader SCNM through EPM was supported by semi-structured interviews among civil-military actors in Sweden, information collected from informal conversations known as “hanging out”, and secondary materials. Empirically, the analysis included a variety of civil-military relationships and identified implications for management, policy, and planning that are applicable to developed countries. Findings The management of civil-military relations is a meaningful resource when used as an overall approach for safety and security. The integration of civil-military relations in EPM in the planning of ES is a long-standing and complex matter. The management of Swedish civil-military relations in EPM is recognising that implications for management are imbedded in continuous policy changes in, for example, the Swedish policy history. Civil-military relational complications that arise in the field of operations are impossible to anticipate during emergency planning, as those complications are grounded in policy changes. Originality/value Escalating threats to developed countries are highlighted. The study underlines the primary measures used in studying military involvement in EPM. An understanding of SCNM as a choice for management can be obtained in future research that focuses on a broader role of the military in EPM. Sweden has emphasised a clearer role for the military by reactivating total defence planning and by evolving common practices and processes with civil actors in civil defence. Meanwhile, Poland and Finland are increasing their focus on supporting the management of civil-military policies on safety and security regarding communication, authority, and developing coordination. Consistent with findings from previous reports on SCNM, civil-military relations are essential for EPM. This study confirmed the importance of civil-military coordination, the management and practice of authority, and shared forms of communication.

Improving civil–military coordination in humanitarian logistics: the challenge

Abstract Within the emerging field of humanitarian logistics, the civil–military logistical interface has achieved only minimal attention in academic literature even though most western nations have a civil–military division within their defence departments. Due to fundamental differences between humanitarian and development agencies and international military forces in terms of the principles and doctrines guiding their work, their agendas, operating styles and roles, the area of civil–military logistical coordination in humanitarian relief has proven to be more difficult than other interagency relationships. This paper presents recent research that proposes a model for logistics requirements in humanitarian operations, taking account of where and how civil–military involvement can be most effective and efficient across all phases of humanitarian operations. Interviews were conducted with key personnel in humanitarian and military organisations. The model proposed here, appears to be robust and workable in a range of geopolitical and operational circumstances. We show that the greatest impact of military involvement is most beneficial in the initial crucial life sustaining days immediately after natural disasters. In contrast in manmade complex emergencies, military assistance to the logistical provision of aid is more beneficial when widespread military expertise is provided.

A coordenação civil-militar na logística humanitária e o papel das forças armadas brasileiras no gerenciamento de desastres

Este trabalho aborda as normas e conceitos internacionais utilizados na coordenação civil-militar no contexto da logística humanitária, apresentando os tipos de emprego dos meios militares nas diferentes respostas humanitárias; destacando a atuação das Forças Armadas nas operações de resposta a desastres encontrados na literatura acadêmica e analisando os principais desafios e limitações desta coordenação. Também são analisados no artigo as capacidades operacionais e o papel dos militares em operações de resposta a desastres, discutindo-se a atuação das Forças Armadas brasileiras na gestão de desastres, com seus desafios e limitações de coordenação no país, finalizando com recomendações para uma maior eficiência da ação militar na logística humanitária em operações de resposta a desastres.

Das US-Militärkommando AFRICOM und der neue Interventionismus zwischen Aufstandsbekämpfung, Stabilisierung und Entwicklung

Abstract US African command and the new interventionism between counterinsurgency, stabilization and development. The establishment of a military command for Africa (US AFRICOM) symbolizes the radical repositioning of the US military. Facilitated by the consensus in contemporary Western foreign policies – that there can be no development without security – over the last ten years the US military has expanded its activities into civilian domains including development and conflict prevention. As a reaction to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, recent US military doctrines on counterinsurgency and stability operations have singled out the need for more civilian and long-term activities as a precondition for success. AFRICOM has put most of these „military innovations“ into practice. Due to the command’s focus on development activities, on civil-military coordination and its proposed engagement in non-war situations, in military circles AFRICOM is seen as a role model for future military practices. This paper problematizes the military’s expanding mandate and discusses its implications. It argues that the military’s increasing engagement in issues of governance and development deeply blurs the normative boundary between the military and the civilian and exposes development as a technology of security. Furthermore, the military’s repositioning follows the dominant securitization of socalled „fragile states“ and classifies social spaces along Western strategic interests. As a consequence, targeted communities fi nd it hard to separate development efforts aimed at countering poverty and those aimed at countering insurgency.

Research on Operation Mechanism of Civil-military Integration Equipment Support Supply Chain

High-tech local wars under conditions of informatization is becoming increasingly dependent on the security of weapons and equipment, and civil-military integration equipment support has become a trend. Civil-military integration equipment support chain construction vigorously, must be starting from the strengthening of the top-level planning decisions, building the civil-military coordination and restraint mechanisms and establishing efficient incentives and effective oversight mechanisms to ensure the performance of various support tasks, and to enhance the equipment support ability to achieve “fast, accurate, and efficient” goals.