Operational Protection.....Crystal Ball or Abstract Art

摘要

This paper addresses the challenges faced by a joint staff when trying to successfully accomplish all of the operational protection tasks listed in the Uniform Joint Task List (UJTL). Issues relating to joint staff organization, competing priorities within specific staff elements, and lack of coordination and oversight relative to this critical operational function are discussed. Three possible joint staff organizations are proposed for the purpose of achieving successful operational protection and advantages and disadvantages of each organization are listed. A model for analyzing operational force protection levels within a theater is presented with a discussion of the model components: military component/force, applicable UJTL task (e.g. protect significant bases), potential threat impact, threat probability, threat level, current protection capability, and operational protection factor. The model' is capable of providing a macro level picture of operational protection throughout a CINC's theater. The model is manpower intensive, however, and would require a significant commitment to render feasible. Four specific recommendations are then proposed to the CINCs and Services in order to improve operational protection for all U.S. and friendly forces.