U.S. Military/NGO Interface: A Vital Link to Successful Humanitarian Intervention

The Army today is faced with increasingly complex challenges and must be prepared to respond to smaller-scale contingency operations and military operations other than war (MOOTW), including complex humanitarian assistance operations. The complexity of these operations requires the U.S. military to effectively work with other U.S. government agencies and non-governmental agencies (NGOs), nationally and internationally. Interagency coordination, collaboration, and cooperation are essential to the achievement of the U.S. National Security Strategic objectives to foster unity of effort in the promotion of democratic values and respect for human rights and dignity worldwide. This paper analyzes the strategic concept of U.S. military interface and interagency cooperation with NGOs by defining and understanding the nature of NGOs, examining their traditional and emerging roles, and analyzing their role to support the U.S. National Security Strategy and policy in humanitarian assistance operations. The doctrinal foundation of interagency process and the aspects of planning, coordination, and training are also examined to validate how strong military/NGO interface contributes to humanitarian intervention and mission effectiveness. Philosophical and organizational differences must be recognized and reconciled to plan, train, and execute successful civil-military humanitarian assistance operations at the tactical operational and strategic level.