Joint Operating Concept (JOC) - GlobalSecurity.org

government or policies. The focus of conventional military operations is
normally an adversary’s armed forces with the objective of influencing the
adversary’s government (left diagram, Figure 1). It generally assumes that the
indigenous populations within the operational area are non-belligerents and will
accept whatever political outcome the belligerent governments impose, arbitrate,
or negotiate. A fundamental military objective in conventional military
operations is to minimize civilian interference in those operations.
In contrast, IW focuses on the control or influence of populations, not on the
control of an adversary’s forces or territory (right diagram, Figure 1). Ultimately,
IW is a political struggle with violent and non-violent components. The struggle
is for control or influence over, and the support of, a relevant population. The
foundation for IW is the centrality of the relevant populations to the nature of
the conflict. The parties to the conflict, whether states or armed groups, seek to
undermine their adversaries’ legitimacy and credibility and to isolate their
adversaries from the relevant populations and their external supporters,
physically as well as psychologically. At the same time, they also seek to bolster
their own legitimacy and credibility to exercise authority over that same
population. 9
Contrasting Conventional & Irregular Warfare
Effect Desired:
Influence Govt
Conventional Warfare
Population
Effect Desired:
Isolate from Conflict
Government
Focus
Military
Effect Desired:
Defeat Military
Effect Desired:
Influence Govt
Irregular Warfare
Population
Government
Focus
Effect Desired:
Gain or Erode Support
Figure 1: Contrasting Conventional and Irregular Warfare
Military
Effect Desired:
Enhance or
Render Irrelevant
9 Some terrorist organizations are exceptions to this general rule in that they attack populations
to coerce or intimidate governments or societies in pursuit of their objectives, without regard to
their own legitimacy or popular support.
8