FM 100-5 Operations - Survival Ebooks Military Manuals Survival ...

WWW.SURVIVALEBOOKS.COMFM 100-5CHAPTER 5COMBINED OPERATIONSCombined operations involve the military forcesof two or more nations acting together in common purpose.If the relationship is longstanding and formalizedby mutual political, diplomatic, and military agreements,it is referred to as an alliance. If the relationshipis short term, ad hoc, and less formal, it is referredto as a coalition.From the American victory at Yorktown in 1781and throughout the US Army’s history, combined operationshave remained central to its experience. Combinedoperations occur both in war and in operationsother than war. World War II, the Korean War, and the1991 Persian Gulf conflict are examples of combinedwarfare.The US will often pursue its objectives throughcoalitions and alliances. In Operations Desert Shieldand Desert Storm, more than 800,000 military personnelfrom 36 nations combined their will, forces, andresources to oppose the Iraqi military. These operations,like many before them, demonstrated the advantageof successful combined warfare over the unilateralefforts of a single nation. The coalition increasedthe size of the overall force, shared the cost ofwaging the war among the nations, and enhanced thelegitimacy of the strategic aims.Nations usually form coalitions for focused, shorttermpurposes. Ad hoc methods are often required todeal with potential coalition issues. Occasionally, coalitionsmature into more formal alliance relationships.Alliances afford the participant nations the timeto establish formal, standard agreements for broad,long-term objectives. Alliance nations strive to fieldcompatible military systems, structure common procedures,and develop contingency plans to meet potentialthreats in a fully integrated manner. As thesenations plan and train together, theybecome more comfortable with one another, earningmutual respect and trust. The North Atlantic TreatyOrganization (NATO) and the Combined Forces Commandin Korea are examples of such alliances.CONSIDERATIONSRegardless of their structure, successful alliances andcoalitions exhibit similar traits. Commanders shouldunderstand the difficulties in forming a strong combinedforce and consider the following factors whenpreparing for combined operations.GOALS AND OBJECTIVESNo two nations share exactly the same reasons forentering into a coalition or alliance. Furthermore, eachnation’s motivation tends to change during the life ofthe union. National goals can be harmonized with anagreed-upon strategy, but often the words used in expressinggoals and objectives intentionallygloss over differences. Even in thebest of circumstances, nations act according to theirown national interests. Differing goals, often unstated,cause each nation to measure progress differently.Thus, participating nations in the coalition must agreeto clearly defined and mutually attainable objectives.Successful coalitions and alliances build uponcommon purpose in combined operations. By emphasizingcommonalities, coalitions can reduce frictionand holdCONTENTSCONSIDERATIONS....................................... 5-1Goals and Objectives ........................... 5-1Military Doctrine and Training ............. 5-2Equipment ............................................. 5-2Cultural Differences.............................. 5-2Language ............................................... 5-2Teamwork and Trust ............................. 5-2PLANNING AND CONDUCT ........................ 5-3Command .............................................. 5-3Maneuver ............................................... 5-3Fires ....................................................... 5-4Intelligence ............................................ 5-4Logistics ................................................ 5-4Liasion and Combined Staffs .............. 5-55-1