Key Counterinsurgency Participants and Their Likely Roles
From Complex Operations Wiki
Due to the unconventional nature of counterinsugency, there are several key participants with varying roles involved in COIN operations. In particular, an important dynamic involves civilian and military integration.
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U.S. Military Forces
Most valuable to long-term success in winning the support of the populace are the contributions land forces make by conducting stability operations. Air, land, and maritime components all contribute to successful operations and to the vital effort to separate insurgents from the people they seek to control. The Army and Marine Corps usually furnish the principal U.S. military contributions to COIN forces. U.S. forces provide advice and help find, disperse, capture, and defeat insurgent forces. Concurrently, they emphasize training HN forces to perform essential defense functions. These are the central tasks of foreign internal defense, a core Special operations forces (SOF) task. SOF are particularly valuable due to their specialized capabilities:
- Civil affairs.
- Psychological operations.
- Intelligence.
- Language skills.
- Region-specific knowledge.
SOF can provide light, agile, high-capability teams able to operate discreetly in local communities. SOF can also conduct complex counterterrorist operations.
Military forces also have capabilities particularly relevant to common COIN requirements. These capabilities include the following:
- Dismounted infantry.
- Human intelligence.
- Language specialists.
- Military police.
- Civil affairs.
- Engineers.
- Medical units.
- Logistic support.
- Legal affairs.
- Contracting elements.
All are found in the Army; most are found in the Marine Corps. To a limited degree, they are also found in the Air Force and Navy.
Multinational (Including Host-Nation) Military Roles
The U.S. Government prefers that U.S. military forces operate with other nations’ forces and not alone. Thus, Soldiers and Marines normally function as part of a multinational force. In COIN operations, U.S. forces usually operate with the security forces of the local populace or host nation. However, nations join coalitions for various reasons. Although the missions of multinational partners may appear similar to those of the United States, rules of engagement, home-country policies, and sensitivities may differ among partners. U.S. military leaders require a strong cultural and political awareness of HN and other multinational military partners.
U.S. Government Organizations
Commanders’ situational awareness includes being familiar with other U.S. Government organizations participating in the COIN effort and aware of their capabilities. Planning includes determining which organizations are supporting the force or operating in their area of operations (AO). Commanders and leaders of other U.S. Government organizations should collaboratively plan and coordinate actions to avoid conflict or duplication of effort. Within the U.S. Government, key organizations include—
- Department of State.
- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
- Central Intelligence Agency.
- Department of Justice.
- Drug Enforcement Administration (under Department of Justice).
- Department of the Treasury.
- Department of Homeland Security.
- Department of Energy.
- Department of Agriculture.
- Department of Commerce.
- Department of Transportation.
- U.S. Coast Guard (under Department of Homeland Security).
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (under Department of Justice).
- Immigration Customs Enforcement (under Department of Homeland Security).
Other Governments’ Agencies
Agencies of other national governments (such as ministries of defense, foreign affairs, development, and justice) are likely to actively participate in COIN operations. Leaders of U.S. contingents must work closely with their multinational counterparts to become familiar with agencies that may operate in their AO. To the degree possible, military leaders should use U.S. civilian representatives to establish appropriate relationships and awareness of their multinational counterparts.
Nongovernmental Organizations
Joint doctrine defines a nongovernmental organization as a private, self-governing, not-for-profit organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering; and/or promoting education, health care, economic development, environmental protection, human rights, and conflict resolution; and/or encouraging the establishment of democratic institutions and civil society (JP 1-02). Gaining the support of and coordinating operations with these NGOs can be difficult. Establishing basic awareness of these groups and their activities may be the most commanders can achieve. NGOs play important roles in resolving insurgencies, however. Many NGOs arrive before military forces and remain afterwards. They can support lasting stability. To the greatest extent possible, commanders try to complement and not override their capabilities. Building a complementary, trust-based relationship is vital. Examples of NGOs include—
- International Committee of the Red Cross.
- World Vision.
- Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
- Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE).
- Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (OXFAM).
- Save the Children.
- Mercy Corps.
- Academy for Educational Development.
Intergovernmental Organizations
Joint doctrine defines an intergovernmental organization as an organization created by a formal agreement (for example, a treaty) between two or more governments. It may be established on a global, regional, or functional basis for wide-ranging or narrowly defined purposes. IGOs are formed to protect and promote national interests shared by member states (JP 1-02). Depending on the situation and HN needs, any number of UN organizations may be present, such as the following:
- Office of the Chief of Humanitarian Affairs.
- Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
- World Food Program.
- UN Refugee Agency (known as UNHCR, the acronym for its director, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees).
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
- UN Development Program.
Multinational Corporations and Contractors
Multinational corporations often engage in reconstruction, economic development, and governance activities. At a minimum, commanders should know which companies are present in their AO and where those companies are conducting business. Such information can prevent fratricide and destruction of private property. When contractors or other businesses are being paid to support U.S. military or other government agencies, the principle of unity of command should apply. Commanders should be able to influence contractors’ performance through U.S. Government contract supervisors. When under contract to the United States, contractors should behave as an extension of the organizations or agencies for which they work. Commanders should identify contractors operating in their AO and determine the nature of their contract, existing accountability mechanisms, and appropriate coordination relationships.
Host-Nation Civil Authorities
Commanders and subordinates often act as diplomats as well as warriors. Within military units, legal officers and their staffs are particularly valuable for clarifying legal arrangements with the host nation. To avoid adverse effects on operations, commanders should address all sovereignty issues through the chain of command to the U.S. Ambassador. Examples of key sovereignty issues include the following:
- Aerial ports of debarkation.
- Basing.
- Border crossings.
- Collecting and sharing information.
- Protection (tasks related to preserving the force).
- Jurisdiction over members of the U.S. and multinational forces.
- Location and access.
- Operations in the territorial waters, both sea and internal.
- Overflight rights.
- Police operations, including arrest, detention, penal, and justice authority and procedures.
- Railheads.
- Seaports of debarkation.
Commanders create coordinating mechanisms, such as committees or liaison elements, to facilitate cooperation and build trust with HN authorities. HN military or nonmilitary representatives should have leading roles in such mechanisms. Coordination and support should exist down to local levels (such as villages and neighborhoods). Soldiers and Marines should be aware of the political and societal structures in their AOs. Political structures usually have designated leaders responsible to the government and people. However, the societal structure may include informal leaders who operate outside the political structure. These leaders may be—
- Economic (such as businessmen).
- Theological (such as clerics and lay leaders).
- Informational (such as newspaper publishers or journalists).
- Family based (such as elders or patriarchs).
Some societal leaders may emerge due to charisma or other intangible influences. Commanders should identify the key leaders and the manner in which they are likely to influence COIN efforts.
