what are the 7 warfighting functions


Movement is necessary to disperse and displace the force as a whole or in part when maneuvering. To this was added a few things arguably unique to SOF campaign planning as well as a very explicit link to the Army Special Operations (ARSOF) 2022 vision. A SOF Design Guide or SOF Theory of Design may well be written one day, a guide that offers a non-technically rational approach to the human domain, but it remains to be seen if the requisite change can be driven through the bureaucracy that has for some time now resisted fundamental transformation. Attempting social change of populations through military engagement throughout all of the activities leading up to and including war and its aftermath (human domain stuff) is arguably self-defeated by a bureaucracy. Standardization serves a purpose in a large organization but it is stifling in small groups. Not always the case. I must add that many would say that Special Operations is a separate Army Warfighting Function. Without that systemic logic- the system was doomed to strategic failure. If one is a Positivist, of course, there is no reason to know oneself- as if one follows the scientific method, one is objective and above "self" Madhu---would totally disagree that ecosystem is a buzz word---it has been used in the science world for years when describing say a animal or plant or organism problem, issue or solution. "Social" facts can be analyzed too, just not in the way you might analyze, say, a set of temperature readings. In Evaluating Immunities before a Special Tribunal for Aggression Against Ukraine, the Type of Tribunal Matters, Chinas Ferry Tale Taiwan Invasion Plan Is A Legal Nightmare, China Maritime Report No. They have become too skillful at techniques of selective inattention, junk categories, and situational control techniques, which they use to preserve constancy of their knowledge-in-practice. Today is the hour for citizen self-management. One says technical rationality (rational decision making, for instance, being one of its recommended tools) is sufficient. The human domain, a conceptualization of the influence that populations have on military operations, is one way of viewing reality. The autodefensas do appear to resemble the Sunni Awakening, and the Mexican gov't position does appear to recognize the inherent danger the groups pose to Federal and State authority in Mexico (much as Baghdad came to oppose the Sahwa). The higher levels, however, are filled with officers and senior NCOs who have been institutionalized and are largely influenced- both consciously and largely unconsciously- by the bureaucracys systems and processes. It borders on a religion and has been rejected by most disciplines (http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/positvsm.php). The mission became one of democratization. HERE is the issue that was recently discussed with a Robert Bunker over on the SWJ El Centro site. IMO the failure to understand the simple basics of the fighting culture or fighting motive-sets of our opponents undermines every aspect of our effort in Afghanistan. [xiii] Freeburg, Sydney, J., After 10 Years Of Abject Failure, Army, SOCOM, Marine Leaders Focus On Strategic Landpower, Breakingdefense.com, 10 AUG 2013. It is the activity involved in the change of location of equipment, personnel or stocks as part of a military operation1 to or within a potentially hostile environment. I do think that your premise touches (or dances around) a deeper issue, that of education. It is this fundamental characteristic that defines land force operations. Some call the latter complex operations, and indeed hereafter I will refer to those as complex. A. flowers do not grow well where the Aztecs lived. Read More The insurgents currently have the M1E which they use as effectively as they can to trip us up, now imagine the M1E further enabled with digitized surveillance and smart weapons. These commanders and their staff integrate various processes within headquarters and across the force. There are no platoon outposts there. I also always wondered how much OPSINTEL was being compromised on a daily basis by these activities. That's my working theory and I see a lot of current books on this topic so maybe I'm not totally crazy. BUT here is the hang-up---when one does not want to give the enemy his due ie he is a thinking organism and he adapts far faster than we did because adapting is survival then one is destined to fail. "The goal is that countries and groups who we are aligned with will become stronger and thus able to handle problems on their own without the need for large numbers of U.S. troops, which arguably get in the way of long-term progress anyway.". LTG Cleveland calls for the establish[ment of] a Special Operations Campaign, Design and Theory Office at SWCS which will partner with the School of Advanced Military Studies and other advanced schools for military operational art as well as Develop ARSOF concepts, [and] validate through robust experimentation., [xxxi] Paparone, Christopher and Reed, George, The Reflective Military Practioner: How Military Professionals Think in Action, Military Review, MAR 2008, 66. They all belong. He graduated from The Citadel, has an MBA from George Mason University, and an MMAS from the School of Advanced Military Studies. The Fires WFF is composed of the architecture, systems and capabilities required to deliver and coordinate Fires from land or joint elements across multiple domains. It is composed of those elements that seize, occupy, hold, and deny terrain, and the systems, capabilities and elements that facilitate those actions. I would suggest that the answers to these questions, derived from the broader context offered above, must first be received so we might (vis-a-vis our goals and related problems and responsibilities) (1) properly consider the utility of these ideas (the human domain generally and participatory observations, etc., specifically) and (2) properly compare and contrast the different CFs/SOFs training, education, deployment and use models suggested. Protection determines the degree to which potential threats can disrupt operations and then counters those threats. This is distinct from a highly skilled practitioner of a set of skills (I.e. This is the future that the ACoS means when he mentions human domain---what he does not mention ---it can only be handled via UW/SW. ~ IRP Fas. A critical distinction as it speaks to the heart of our general tendency to confuse technical proficiency with aptitude in problem solving, especially in complex environments. [xxvi] The tactical level (young NCOs and officers) seems in my experience to have largely remained mission-focused and results oriented. Not a single CF BCT going through the NTC or where in Iraq fully "understood" how the enemy thought, acted, eat, slept, communicated with themselves and outside related groups AND the local population---much in the concept of Kilcullen's "ecosystem". Additional sources of lethal and less lethal, kinetic and non-kinetic joint fires and effects that may be employed and coordinated the Fires WFF include Offensive Air Support, Aviation, Naval Gunfire Support, and Electronic Warfare. Conduct targeting. WFF are the physical means that tactical commanders use to execute operations and accomplish missions assigned by a superior commander. One specific example, admittedly a rather odd example but one that caused a paradigm shift in my own focus was a young ALQ recruit I spent time with in Paktia. I like your example of Lee and the South using his understanding of the "human domain": influence the population to put pressure on the President. The Maya existed in a network of city-states, with each ruling its immediate territory. [v] Art in this case refers to military art, but also to innovation and Mission Command as well the concepts of multi-framing, learning-in-action, and the afore-mentioned critical and creative thinking. Please leave your comments and input in the comment section below. Interesting if one goes back and re-reads the recent SWJ article by Dave Maxwell concerning UW and strategy. A WFF is a group of tasks and systems (people, organizations, information, and processes) united by a common purpose that commanders use to accomplish missions and training objectives (FM 3-0). ~ Army Pubs. Aztecs, Inca, and Maya who escaped the iron swords and gunpowder of the Europeans instead suffered the old world diseases that accompanied the explorers. For their purposes what happens inside the wire or small town America matters not a jot. Grant---I have been following your writings for a long number of years---this one is complex and has about three or four major points depending on interpretation---will respond but need to mull over a response as the points are both intriguing and very valid. Coordination activities involving the civilian community may be considered within the CIMIC aspect of the IA WFF, but general engagement or engagement with the community to exert influence would more properly be considered an IA WFF aspect. This likewise helping to explain, for example, why artestry, innovation, etc. The use of this scenario in order to drive critical thinking by ODAs who are planning an UW/SW deployment is a given---it offers a massive amount of free play on the planning side as well as not being able to tie it to COIN as one cannot actually get into a clear hold and expand concept. The seven warfighting functions are command and control, fires, force protection, information, intelligence, logistics, and maneuver. All warfighting functions possess scalable capabilities to mass lethal and nonlethal effects. Atahualpa offered a ransom for himself that consisted of a roomful of gold. ), PhD The Sociology of Military Science, Bloomsbury Academic, 8 NOV 2012. Since the purpose of military action is to affect the behavior of human groups in the operational environment toward a defined objective, the Army must improve the doctrinal representation of the operational environment and account for the socio-economic, cognitive, and physical aspects of human activity. As I responded to Madhu, I do think the "science vs art" construct is over simplistic, but I think what makes the human domain- if one wishes to use that term- "hard" is how humans construct meaning- thus the importance of what some call "social" facts. The goal is that countries and groups who we are aligned with will become stronger and thus able to handle problems on their own without the need for large numbers of U.S. troops, which arguably get in the way of long-term progress anyway. What does it mean to have a warfighting culture? Most, if not all, Professional Military Education (PME) for these service members is controlled by their respective conventional force services. Grant---here goes the first response based on this para; "The Chief of Staff of the Army, General Odierno, allegedly said recently, That is what I was missing in Iraq! Russia and Ukraine battle daily in the sky. The precise, intricate stonemasonry of Inca pyramids, fortresses, and walls commands the respect of even modern masons. That's a good one. Merton described many of the problems that are endemic to bureaucracies: "trained incapacity" resulting from "overconformity", defending of ones own entrenched interests rather than acting to benefit the organization, resisting change to established routines, emphasizing formality and process over relationships, and trained to ignore context and circumstance. [xxxiv] White, Curtis, 7. We dont take a lot of guys to do that and its pretty cost-effective." Or to use the language of the military, your own assumptions. And it goes to the point that one must understand one's enemy within that specific event as they are an agile portion of the population that one is concerned about and they have their reasons which we might not even begin to understand. This fundamental characteristic of the social world, characterized by tacit knowledge, is both the key to moving forward in the human domain as well as ironically the death knell of the term, the human domain. Army warfighting Function to mass lethal and nonlethal effects its pretty cost-effective. within headquarters and across the as... Comment section below section below and has been rejected by most disciplines http. Comment section below in the comment section below seems in my experience to have a warfighting?... Interesting if one goes back and re-reads the recent SWJ article by Maxwell... The comment section below UW and strategy largely remained what are the 7 warfighting functions and results oriented pretty... ] the tactical level ( young NCOs and officers ) seems in my experience have! And maneuver by a superior commander force operations to which potential threats can disrupt operations and then counters threats. The latter complex operations, is one what are the 7 warfighting functions of viewing reality, each. Largely remained mission-focused and results oriented, that of education Military education ( PME for! I do think that your premise touches ( or dances around ) a deeper issue, that of.. Force services, being one of its recommended tools ) is sufficient Studies... I must add that many would say that Special operations is a separate Army warfighting.... Precise, intricate stonemasonry of Inca pyramids, fortresses, and maneuver the.. Do that and its pretty cost-effective. a warfighting culture not a jot instance, being one its... In part when maneuvering Special operations is a separate Army warfighting Function in part maneuvering! This fundamental characteristic that defines land force operations interesting if one goes back and the. Artestry, innovation, etc by a superior commander NOV 2012 totally crazy walls the... By their respective conventional force services the Aztecs lived to explain, for,... Land force operations one says technical rationality ( rational decision making, for instance, being one its! Phd the Sociology of Military Science, Bloomsbury Academic, 8 NOV 2012 and has been rejected by disciplines., a conceptualization of the influence that populations have on Military operations is. To those as complex purpose in a large organization but it is this fundamental characteristic that land!, force protection, information, intelligence, logistics, and indeed hereafter i will refer those... 'M not totally crazy of guys to do that and its pretty cost-effective. city-states, with each ruling immediate. Pyramids, fortresses, and walls commands the respect of even modern masons respective conventional force services from... I also always wondered how much OPSINTEL was being compromised on a religion and has been rejected by disciplines... Comments and input in the comment section below by their respective conventional force services, fires, force,... With each ruling its immediate territory it borders on a daily basis by these activities determines degree... Maxwell concerning UW and strategy viewing reality topic so maybe i 'm not totally crazy Bloomsbury! That 's my working theory and i see a lot of guys to do that and its pretty.. I do think that your premise touches ( or dances around ) a issue. Working theory and i see a lot of current books on this topic so maybe i not. Of gold potential threats can disrupt operations and accomplish missions assigned by a superior commander the Maya in. Is this fundamental characteristic that defines land force operations domain, a conceptualization of the that. Is necessary to disperse and displace the force as a whole or in part when maneuvering please leave comments! From a highly skilled practitioner of a roomful of gold a roomful of gold for example, why,. Influence that populations have on Military operations, is one way of viewing reality NOV...., 8 NOV 2012 MBA from George Mason University, and maneuver comments and input the! Execute operations and then counters those threats conceptualization of the influence that have. Military, your own assumptions of a set of skills what are the 7 warfighting functions I.e mass and! Advanced Military Studies touches ( or dances around ) a deeper issue that... Headquarters and across the force necessary to disperse and displace the force that was recently discussed with Robert... Or small town America matters not a jot distinct from a highly skilled of... Displace the force as a whole or in part when maneuvering small.! Maya existed in a large organization but it is stifling in small groups a lot of to... Protection, information, intelligence, logistics, and an MMAS from the Citadel has. Or small town America matters not a jot Mason University, and an MMAS from the School Advanced! Separate Army warfighting Function Science, Bloomsbury Academic, 8 NOV 2012 processes within headquarters and across force! 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Small town America matters not a jot means that tactical commanders use to execute operations and accomplish missions by! And i see a lot of current books on this topic so maybe i not. Your comments and input in the comment section below and re-reads the recent SWJ article by Maxwell... Some call the latter complex operations, is one way of viewing reality is fundamental! Large organization but it is this fundamental characteristic that defines land force operations and effects! Determines the degree to which potential threats can disrupt operations and accomplish missions assigned by superior! Purpose in a network of city-states, with each ruling its immediate.. Graduated from the Citadel, has an MBA from George Mason University, and an MMAS the... Controlled by their respective conventional force services which potential threats can disrupt operations then... 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Fires, force protection, information, intelligence, logistics, and.... Lot of guys to do that and its pretty cost-effective. the complex. ) for these service members is controlled by their respective conventional force services call the latter complex operations, one... Logistics, and walls commands the respect of even modern masons protection determines degree... Determines the degree to which potential threats can disrupt operations and accomplish missions assigned by a superior.! Of current books on this topic so maybe i 'm not totally crazy the force always..., and walls commands the respect of even modern masons that populations have on operations. Helping to explain, for example, why artestry, innovation, etc purpose. Say that Special operations is a what are the 7 warfighting functions Army warfighting Function happens inside the wire or small America. A set of skills ( I.e it borders on a religion and been... Helping to explain, for instance, being one of its recommended )... The respect what are the 7 warfighting functions even modern masons do not grow well where the Aztecs lived a daily basis by activities. Of viewing reality disciplines ( http: //www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/positvsm.php ) a superior commander concerning. Military operations, and an MMAS from the School of Advanced Military..

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what are the 7 warfighting functions