Beyond the battlefield
Subtitle: institutional Army transformation following victory in Iraq
By: G. Scott Taylor
Contributors: Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute
Series: Letort papers -- [no. 55]; Letort papers -- [no. 55]
Publisher: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College; SSI
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Carlisle, PA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 75
ISBN-13: 9781584875536
Subjects: Organization; Reorganization; Stability operations; Counterinsurgency; Nation-building; Elements of national power; Lessons learned; United States. Army; United States
Description: The Army goes to great lengths to capture lessons learned and preserve these lessons for current practitioners and future generations. Though the Army is one of the most self-critical organizations found in American society, a well-deserved reputation has also been earned for failing to inculcate those lessons by transforming the institutional Army. Change is achieved through a continuous cycle of adaptive innovation, experimentation, and experience. In Iraq, out of necessity while in contact with a dynamic enemy, the Army transformed on the battlefield with radical changes in doctrine, organization, training, and materiel, which significantly enabled battlefield success. As a result of the withdrawal of troops from Iraq at the end of 2011, this paper analyzes the success of the military's counterinsurgency strategy and nation-building efforts, examines the future of combat which the Army may face in order to recommend a suitable force posture, and makes recommendations for future competencies and capabilities utilizing the problem-solving construct of DOTMLPF in order to ensure future victories in this relevant component of the full spectrum of conflict.
Notes: "November 2012."

Includes bibliographical references.

Also available online in PDF format from Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) web site. Adobe Acrobat Reader required.
Table of contents: title: Army adaptation; title: The four schools of thought on posturing the future force; title: The turning point in Iraq; title: The instruments of national power; title: DOTMLPF recommendations; title: Conclusion.