Horizons - United States Special Operations Command

OperaTiOnaLizinG irreGULarWarFareBy Major Dave Blankenship, USMCThe 2008 Quadrennial Roles & Missions reviewestablished Irregular Warfare (IW) as a core missionarea for the Department of Defense (DoD). On 1December 2008, the Secretary of Defense issued guidancefor institutionalizing IW across the Department in the formof DoD Directive (DoDD) 3000.07.DoDD 3000.07 articulates Department policy for IW,assigns specific responsibilities for DoD offices and militarycomponents, and prioritizes twelve actions or activities toenable “operationalizing IW.” This term is defined by theDoD Dictionary as: “The level of war at which campaignsand major operations are planned, conducted, andsustained to achieve strategic objectives within theaters orother operational areas. Activities at this level link tacticsand strategy by establishing operational objectives neededto achieve the strategic objectives, sequencing eventsto achieve the operational objectives, initiating actions,and applying resources to bring about and sustain theseevents.”IW is people-oriented, population-centric, and takesplace in the presence of an enemy. DoDD 3000.07articulates five primary and seven secondary IW activities– which are well-understood, practiced and developedcivil-military approaches for addressing the complex sociopoliticaldimensions of conflict. These activities provideA Kurdish elder demonstrates his English language knowledge, toU.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Hoff, attached to Crazyhorse Troop,4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade CombatTeam, 1st Cavalry Division, during a recent visit, to the village ofTubazawa, in Kirkuk, Iraq, May 14, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt.Gustavo Olgiati)Definition of Irregular Warfare:“A violent struggle among state and non-state actors forlegitimacy and influence over the relevant population(s).Irregular Warfare favors indirect and asymmetricapproaches, though it may employ the full range of militaryand other capacities, in order to erode an adversary’spower, influence and will.”– DoD DictionaryFall 2009 7