Rainbow in the Dark: The Stability and Security Center of Excellence

摘要

The 21st Century has been dubbed an 'era of persistent conflict' by U.S. military leaders. As a result, United States' defense forces will have to operate in environments requiring 'full spectrum operations' for the near future. This requires U.S. forces to be able to simultaneously conduct offensive, defensive, and stability or civil support operations. While stability operations used to be relegated to secondary status, Department of Defense Directive 3000.05 dictates that stability operations 'Shall be given priority comparable to combat operations and be explicitly addressed and integrated across all DoD activities, including doctrine, organizations, training, education, exercises, material, leadership, personnel, facilities, and planning.' The primary research question is as follows: How can the U.S. military more effectively train its officers for stability and security operations. In particular, the thesis explores whether there is a need for an institution that can fuse advisory functions, language, and cultural skills in preparing Soldiers for stability operations. Four secondary questions also were explored: (1) How have U.S. military leaders publicly approached stability and security operations; (2) What is the role of conventional forces in future stability operations; (3) How is the U.S. currently institutionalizing stability operations; and (4) What is an example of a past institution created by the United States in response to an international security threat. The thesis recommends a new institution to educate and develop leaders to maximize unity of effort, flexibility, and responsiveness with regard to stability operations: the Stability and Security Center of Excellence (SSCOE).