Effects Based Operations: a New Way of Thinking and Fighting
Author | : |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : 48 |
Release | : 2003 |
ISBN-10 | : OCLC:56562003 |
ISBN-13 | : |
Rating | : 4/5 (03 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: This paper analyzes Effects-Based Operations as the most effective way to frame future joint operations in a complex, uncertain environment. This new complex and uncertain environment is characterized by adversaries who have increasingly more access to weapons of Mass Destruction/Effects and whose actions will likely be very unpredictable, and could directly threaten the American homeland. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld stated that, "such new, unexpected and dangerous adversaries must be dissuaded, deterred, and defeated without undue cost to American interests abroad or attacks on the U.S. homeland." In a speech presented March 2002, on transformation he stated that what is needed now at the threshold of the 21st Century is a "new way of thinking and a new way of fighting." The Joint Forces Command has adopted and continues to evolve the concept of EBO within a Joint warfighting construct to answer in part to both challenges. This paper determined that EBO shows great promise as a broad organizing approach to future warfare but has significant obstacles to overcome to be successfully integrated into a new Joint warfighting construct. EBO has been unfairly scrutinized due service centric views and rivalries. These service centric views must be overcome to ensure joint procurement of compatible C4ISR systems, the development of effective war gaming or modeling tools, and the requirement for the integration of joint, hard realistic training. EBO should provide the framework for service doctrine to expand ensuring a synergy between elements of national power, capabilities of each service, domains in which each service operates and the process of thinking and conducting future warfare.