Approach to the

IW Environment

US Army Combined Arms Center

Understanding the Environment

Approach the problem from the perspective of the
insurgent and population to help define priorities and
the balance of efforts.
What is a counterinsurgency?
- What are we countering?
- What is Counterinsurgency vs. Counterguerrilla
warfare

US Army Combined Arms Center

Mindset and the Full Spectrum of COIN

Counterinsurgency

Counterguerrilla

Counterguerrilla : Countering Insurgents (e.g. Counter IED)

- Short
term
Versus
- Reactive
- Tactical
Counterinsurgency
- Military

: Eliminating Root Causes (e.g. denying

insurgents passive/active support of the population to lay
in IEDs.
- Medium and long term
- Proactive
- Tactical (with cumulative)
Military
and political
US-Army
Combined
Arms Center

Mindset and the Full Spectrum of COIN

What
is a counterinsurgency?
Counterinsurgency
Counterguerrilla
Balanced
Balanced
Development
Development
- Political
Reform
Mobilization
- Countering
Insurgents
- Economic Reform
Neutralization
- Social Refrom
Security
Mobilization
Mobilization
Advising
HN (Combat Advisor)
- Manpower
- Material
The Full Spectrum of
Neutralization
Counterinsurgency
- Countering the Root Causes
of the insurgency
Counterguerrilla
- Physical Interdiction
- Psychological Interdiction
Security
- Population
- Infrastructure
Advising HN (Combat Advisor)
- Leadership
- Training
- Equip/Admin/Logistics
- Ethos/Professionalization
US Army Combined Arms Center

How do we bridge the gap from DOCTRINE to APPLICATION?

Doctrine

Versus

Know
It
Get It

Size and Experience

of the Force
US Army Combined Arms Center

Application

Full

3
Stan

ize
d
r
a
d

S
p
e
c
t
r
u
m

d Tools and Proc

edur
es

Mindset / Perspective

Doctrine

US Army Combined Arms Center

Application
Know
It

IPB in
Counterinsurgency
Overview

US Army Combined Arms Center

IPB 1

1
Determine
Threat
Courses of
Action
Evaluate the
Threat

Define the
Operational
Environment

Visualize the specific

groups that defines the
limits of the AO/AI by
looking at the physical
and human terrain using
ASCOPE (overlay).
Identify each specific
community or group.

Describe the
Environment's
Effects

IPB 2

Visualize the specific

groups that defines the
limits of the AO/AI by
looking at the physical
and human terrain using
ASCOPE (overlay).
Identify each specific
community or group.

1
Determine
Threat
Courses of
Action
Evaluate the
Threat

Define the
Operational
Environment

Describe the
Environment's
Effects

2
Visualize the 3 x Root
Causes by community or
specific group depicted in
the Overlay from IPB I

IPB 3

Visualize the specific

groups that defines the
limits of the AO/AI by
looking at the physical
and human terrain using
ASCOPE (overlay).
Identify each specific
community or group.

1
Determine
Threat
Courses of
Action
Evaluate the
Threat

3
Assess the insurgents strategy
and forecast his MD/MP COA (add
to IPB I-II overlay to visualize and
the enemys campaign plan and
how he gains passive/active
support of the population)

Define the
Operational
Environment

Describe the
Environment's
Effects

2
Visualize the 3 x Root
Causes by community or
specific group depicted in
the Overlay from IPB I

The enemys Strategy

and capabilities (IPB III)
to use Root Causes (IPB
II) to specifically target
and leverage the human
and physical terrain (IPB
I) to accomplish MD/MP
COAs. In short this is
the enemys campaign
plan.

IPB 4

4
Determine
Threat
Courses of
Action
Evaluate the
Threat

3
Assess the insurgents strategy
and forecast his MD/MP COA (add
to IPB I-II overlay to visualize and
the enemys campaign plan and
how he gains passive/active
support of the population)

Visualize the specific

groups that defines the
limits of the AO/AI by
looking at the physical
and human terrain using
ASCOPE (overlay).
Identify each specific
community or group.

1
Define the
Operational
Environment

Describe the
Environment's
Effects

2
Visualize the 3 x Root
Causes by community or
specific group depicted in
the Overlay from IPB I

IPB

Determine
Define the
How ENEMY
Threat
The
PEOPLE
Operational
uses
ISSUES
Courses
of
to get PEOPLE Environment
Action
Evaluate
the
The ENEMY
Threat

Describe the
Their
ISSUES
Environment's
Effects

US Army Combined Arms Center

IPB 4

How ENEMY
The PEOPLE
uses ISSUES
to get PEOPLE

The ENEMY

3 x Root
Their ISSUES

3 x Root
Causes

Causes

3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes

Root Causes

US Army Combined Arms Center

1. Vulnerable Population
2. Lack of Leadership
3. Lack Government Control

How ENEMY
The PEOPLE
uses ISSUES
to get PEOPLE

Begin to Develop Insurgent

The ENEMY
Campaign Plan
Assess: Strategy
3
Forecast: Operational OBJs across:
Political

COAs

Military

COAs

Social

COAs

3 x Root
Their ISSUES

3 x Root
Causes

Causes

3 x Root
Causes

Economic

COAs

US Army Combined Arms Center

3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes

Root Causes
1. Vulnerable Population
2. Lack of Leadership
3. Lack Government Control

What
w/ Who
How

How ENEMY
The PEOPLE
uses ISSUES
to get PEOPLE

Begin to Develop Insurgent

The ENEMY
Campaign Plan
Assess: Strategy
3
Forecast: Operational OBJs across:
Political

COAs

Military

COAs

Social

COAs

3 x Root
Their ISSUES

3 x Root
Causes

Causes

3 x Root
Causes

Economic

COAs

US Army Combined Arms Center

3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes

Root Causes
1. Vulnerable Population
2. Lack of Leadership
3. Lack Government Control

What
w/ Who
How

How ENEMY
The PEOPLE
uses ISSUES
to get PEOPLE

Begin to Develop Insurgent

The ENEMY
Campaign
Plan
MDMP
Assess: Strategy
3
Forecast: Operational OBJs across:

3 x Root
Their ISSUES

3 x Root
Causes

Causes

3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes

Root Causes

US Army Combined Arms Center

1. Vulnerable Population
2. Lack of Leadership
3. Lack Government Control

What

w/ Who

How ENEMY
The PEOPLE
uses ISSUES
to get PEOPLE

How

The ENEMY
MDMP
MDMP
MDMP
MDMP
MDMP
MDMP
MDMP
MDMP
MDMP
MDMP
MDMP

3
LLOs

SHORT

MEDIUM

LONG

Balanced Development

IIIIIII

IIIIII

IIII

Mobilization

IIIIIII

IIIIIIIII

IIII

Neutralization

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

IIIIIIIII

IIIII

Security

II

FID

IIIIIIIIIII

IIII

3 x Root
Their ISSUES

3 x Root
Causes

Causes

3 x Root
Causes

US Army Combined Arms Center

3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes

Root Causes
1. Vulnerable Population
2. Lack of Leadership
3. Lack Government Control

COIN IPB/Overlay helps with:

Site selectionmethod
of Combat
Outposts
Standardizes
to assist
units, HN security forces, coalition
Overlapping sectors based on
members, local leaders,
Operational Environment
government agencies, PRTs, etc in
I/O message
focusing
on: and delivery method
based
on Operational
- Political
ObjectiveEnvironment,
and-Effects
Unity of Effort
- Legitimacy
Greatly
assists in cultural and
- Adaptability
situational
awareness (key to
- Perseverance
Mission
success and Force
Protection).
Addresses Effects (Root Causes)
by the Environment to forecast and
deny Threat from gaining active /
passive support.

COP
COP

COP
COP

COP
COP
COP

3 x Root
Causes
3 x Root
Causes

Support med/long term plans and

continuity to insure sustainment
from tour to tour and during
handoff
HN Combined Arms Center
US to
Army

3 x Root
Causes
3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes

Root Causes
1. Vulnerable Population
2. Lack of Leadership
3. Lack Government Control

COIN IPB/Overlay helps with:

Site selectionmethod
of Combat
Outposts
Standardizes
to assist
units, HN security forces, coalition
Overlapping sectors based on
members, local leaders,
Operational Environment
government agencies, PRTs, etc in
I/O message
focusing
on: and delivery method
based
on Operational
- Political
ObjectiveEnvironment,
and-Effects
Unity of Effort
- Legitimacy
Greatly
assists in cultural and
- Adaptability
situational
awareness (key to
- Perseverance
Mission
success and Force
Protection).
Addresses Effects (Root Causes)
by the Environment to forecast and
deny Threat from gaining active /
passive support.

JSS
JSS

JSS
JSS

JSS
JSS
JSS

3 x Root
Causes
3 x Root
Causes

Support med/long term plans and

continuity to insure sustainment
from tour to tour and during
handoff
HN Combined Arms Center
US to
Army

3 x Root
Causes
3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes

Root Causes
1. Vulnerable Population
2. Lack of Leadership
3. Lack Government Control

COIN IPB/Overlay helps with:

Uses standard conventional
framework (4 x steps IPB) but in a
COIN environment.

JSS
JSS

JSS
JSS

Consistency and standardizing

basic tools and mindset within the
framework of Doctrine outweighs
each centers, seminar, units, or
schools individual method
If we all use these tools greatly
facilitates long-term sustainment
which is vital in a protracted
struggle

JSS
JSS
JSS

3 x Root
Causes
3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes
3 x Root
Causes

3 x Root
Causes

Root Causes

US Army Combined Arms Center

1. Vulnerable Population
2. Lack of Leadership
3. Lack Government Control