This report examines U.S. Army security cooperation (SC) processes in the Pacific Command area of responsibility to forge stronger links between strategic and tactical levels in the planning and execution of SC activities. Researchers developed a framework to link tactical-level SC activities with strategic goals and found ways to identify information requirements for units executing SC activities and improve evaluations of SC events.
Pacific Engagement
Forging Tighter Connections Between Tactical Security Cooperation Activities and U.S. Strategic Goals in the Asia-Pacific Region
Download
Download eBook for Free
Full Document
Format | File Size | Notes |
---|---|---|
PDF file | 0.7 MB | Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher for the best experience. |
Research Synopsis
Format | File Size | Notes |
---|---|---|
PDF file | 0.1 MB | Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher for the best experience. |
Purchase
Purchase Print Copy
Format | List Price | Price | |
---|---|---|---|
Add to Cart | Paperback142 pages | $24.00 | $19.20 20% Web Discount |
Research Question
- How can security cooperation (SC) planning and evaluation processes be improved to link strategic and tactical goals for SC activities?
Security cooperation (SC) events should forge strong relationships with U.S. partners, help develop partners' military capabilities and ability to operate with U.S. forces, and facilitate access to foreign countries in the event of a contingency. This report examines U.S. Army SC processes in the Pacific Command area of responsibility to forge stronger links between strategic and tactical levels in the planning and execution of SC activities. Researchers developed a framework to link tactical- and operational-level SC activities with strategic goals and found ways to identify information requirements for units executing SC activities and improve evaluations. Researchers found that planning for SC events could be improved by providing additional clarity in the orders process and strengthened knowledge management to aid tactical planners. SC evaluations at the strategic level could be improved through better specifications of the linkages between SC events and expected outcomes and at the tactical level through process improvements in the conduct and dissemination of after-action reports.
Key Findings
- The existing security cooperation (SC) planning coordination system generally functions well, though challenges remain. Many processes do not adequately ensure that the right information gets to the right people. The participants in exercise planning events, for instance, are often different from the personnel who will ultimately conduct those events, but no authoritative record of the planning conferences is transmitted to the SC event executors. These process issues are exacerbated by personnel turnover and shortfalls.
- Several of the planning coordination problems identified by interviewees were caused by inconsistent adherence to established practice, rather than problems with the system itself.
- At a conceptual level, the SC strategic evaluation process in many cases does a poor job of specifying the intermediate outcomes that should be observable if SC events are indeed contributing to strategic-level goals.
- In addition, many of the data necessary to make informed SC evaluations are not currently being collected.
Recommendations
- Improve knowledge management (accessible country folders with details on logistics and other requirements, cultural information, etc.), as well as evaluation tools.
- Work to improve the critical content of after-action reports, potentially using any one of a number of well-established processes for facilitating such analyses.
- Develop measures of effectiveness and measures of performance that more appropriately reflect intermediate military objectives and tasks.
- A waiver from the State Department could allow the issuance of official passports without requiring flight schedules and manifests.
- Develop and disseminate strategic communications themes for SC and relate those themes to specific SC activities.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Introduction
Chapter Two
USARPAC and I Corps Roles in SC Planning
Chapter Three
USARPAC Strategic and Tactical Evaluation of SC Activities
Chapter Four
Conclusion and Recommendations
Appendix A
AAR Coding Scheme
Appendix B
AAR Template for Small-Scale SC Event (Abbreviated)
Appendix C
AAR Template for Small-Scale SC Event
Appendix D
AAR Template for Large-Scale SC Event
Appendix E
Security Cooperation Training Scorecard
Research conducted by
The research described in this report was prepared for the United States Army and conducted by the Strategy, Doctrine, and Resources Program within the RAND Arroyo Center.
This report is part of the RAND Corporation Research report series. RAND reports present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND reports undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.
This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.
The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.