Towards an Integrated Campaign Plan: The Use of Political, Economic, and Military Elements of National Power at the Operational Level of War

Current U.S. military doctrine focuses on the use of military forces to defeat enemy armies. Other elements of national power, such as economic or political, are linked with military action at the national strategic level and passed to the operational and tactical levels through constraints or limitations on the use of force. This monograph addresses whether this current approach or one which fully integrates all elements of national power at the operational vice strategic level of war is better for achieving overall strategic success. Through analysis of military theory and subsequent discussion and analysis of the recent operations, JUST CAUSE and DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, potential shortcomings in the current doctrine are identified. An integrated methodology for campaign planning is then proposed. Based on tenets included in current doctrine, this new process expands current definitions to allow for the use of all elements of national power. Integration of national power at the operational level offers many unique advantages. Difficult issues such as command and control and allocation of shared resources would be addressed early in the planning process. Courses of action could consider all elements of power in combination to attack any of the enemy's elements of power. With such integration there is a greater chance for strategic success.