Internalizing full spectrum operations doctrine in the U.S. Army

Abstract

For the U.S. Army, the fundamentally new concept of full spectrum operations requires that stability operations be internalized into its culture and operations. The main research question of this thesis is: How can the Army internalize full spectrum operations, including stability operations, into its culture and operations? Internalization specifies a cultural integration of stability operations represented by organizational attitudinal responses in the execution of full spectrum operations. The findings of this thesis are that full spectrum operations will be internalized in the U.S. Army under the following three conditions: 1) The National Security Strategy formally and consistently embraces the use of the military forces to conduct stability operations in support of national objectives. As addressed in Chapter II, this is the best method for prompting the Army to accept full spectrum operations, and specifically stability operations, as a permanent mission-set with the accompanying imperative to internalize it. 2) The Army doctrinally evolves the full spectrum concept, and devises a training model that supports operationalizing full spectrum operations. As described in Chapter III, addressing these imperatives requires the Army to rectify core issues such as leader development and the optimal force structure for full spectrum operations. 3) The Army is able to close the conceptual gaps in the whole-of-government approach to stability operations and overcome internal biases as represented by the current assignment and career development practices in the personnel system.