Operations

What is the definition of war in MCDP-1 Warfighting?

A violent clash of interests between or among organized groups characterized by the use of military force

LEVELS OF WAR

Activities in war take place at several interrelated levels which form a hierarchy. The three levels of war are: Strategic, Operational, Tactical

ECONOMY

All cultural groups have a specific system for obtaining, producing, and distributing items (food, clothing, cars, houses, etc.) and services (medical care, education, etc.) that people need or want to survive in their society. This system is called the economy of a culture. There are three important models of economic systems that are significant for a Marine working in a foreign AO: Formal and informal economic systems Economy as a network of exchange Economy as a way of structuring social relationships

Belief System

All culture groups have a shared set of beliefs that unite individual members. Beliefs are learned and originate from many sources: family, traditions, education, religion, ideologies, and even personal experience. Although some beliefs may vary among individuals, shared belief systems can be very powerful, affecting behavior and influencing the way people perceive their world. Belief systems have a variety of features such as: History, collective memory, and folklore Traditions and rituals Norms, mores, and taboos Religion

Combined Action Program

Building on their early 20th century counterinsurgency experiences in Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic, the Marine Corps implemented an innovative program in South Vietnam called the Combined Action Program (CAP). The CAP paired teams of about 14 Marines and a single corpsman led by an NCO with approximately 20 host-nation security personnel. These CAP platoons earned the trust of villagers by living among them while helping villagers defend themselves. Marines trained and led the local defense forces, and learned the villagers' customs and languages.

Reflect and Seek Feedback

Continue to reflect upon and learn from your interactions and experiences after they occur. After an interaction, consider whether you conveyed the intended message. Consider why you were or were not successful. If available, ask a local or a member of the host-nation security force.

Religion

It is common for most people to assume that cultural beliefs are the result and reflection of religious beliefs—religion determines the culture. Yet frequently, the reverse is true: cultural beliefs and practices influence the manifestation of religion. Formal interpretations of religion are typically characterized by the following features: written texts or complex oral traditions, religious schools or apprenticeships that teach scholars about the texts, and an official interpretation of these texts or narratives. Informal religious practices are predominantly folk interpretations mixed with local cultural practices and superstitions. Particularly in areas where people are illiterate, informal religious practices are usually a synthesis of local beliefs and traditions.

DEFINE IRREGULAR WARFARE

Joint Publication 1-02 defines irregular warfare as: A violent struggle among state and non-state actors for legitimacy and influence over the relevant population(s). Irregular warfare favors indirect and asymmetric approaches, though it may employ the full range of military and other capacities, to erode an adversary's power, influence, and will.

The unit's character must be engrained in each member and every action. Which of the following is a final rule?

No better friend, no worse enemy

The __________ of war is to impose our will on our enemy.

Objective

Which of the following are the levels of war?

Strategic,Operational,Tactical

Traditions and Rituals

Traditions are ways of doing things that are handed down from generation to generation. Rituals are essentially a specific kind of tradition based on the notion that the actions in the ritual must be performed in a special way to be valid. Rituals, and other traditions, are particularly obvious at special times of celebration. For Marines, rituals and ceremonies are not just quaint local traditions; they offer a window into cultural values and ideals.

HONOR

A code of personal integrity, honor guides those who do the right thing when no one is looking. It is not only a duty but also a distinction, as those who possess honor are held in honor. It is found in one's beliefs but exhibited through one's actions. Marines are held to the highest of standards, ethically and morally. Marines are expected to act responsibly in a manner befitting the title they have earned.

UNCERTAINTY

Another attribute of war is uncertainty. All actions in war take place in an atmosphere of uncertainty, or in the "fog of war." Uncertainty pervades battle in the form of unknowns about the enemy, the environment, and even the friendly situation. The very nature of war makes certainty impossible; all actions in war will be based on incomplete, inaccurate, or even contradictory information. Because we can never eliminate uncertainty, we must learn to fight effectively despite it. We can do this by: - Developing simple and flexible plans - Planning for likely contingencies - Developing standing operating procedures - Fostering initiative among subordinates

POLICY

As strategically important as traditional warfare, and the DoD must be equally capable in both. Many of the capabilities and skills required for IW are applicable to traditional warfare, but their role in IW can be proportionally greater. The DoD will be proficient in irregular warfare. Conducted independently of, or in combination with, traditional warfare

Which IW activity is defined as actions taken directly against terrorist networks and indirectly to influence and render global and regional environments inhospitable to terrorist networks?

Counterterrorism

__________, instilled through leadership, is the driving force of all action in war.

Human will

HISTORICAL APPROACH

Operational culture is not a new concept to Marines. As an expeditionary force, the Marine Corps has a long history of success in fighting small wars and operating amongst the people. In fact, of all U.S. forces, Marines are especially adapted to fighting irregular conflicts in foreign environments and interacting with local populations. The examples provided demonstrate the importance that the Marine Corps has placed on the application of operational culture in military operations.

Water, land, food, materials for shelter, climate and seasons, fuel and power, transportation, communication, and infrastructure are all considerations for the __________.

Physical environment

THE SCIENCE, ART, AND DYNAMIC OF WAR

The conduct of war is fundamentally a dynamic process of human competition requiring both the knowledge of science and the creativity of art; however, it is ultimately driven by the power of human will.

Take a Cultural Perspective

Try to view situations through the perspective of another culture. Being able to consider the cultural perspectives of others during intercultural encounters: Can reduce conflict and misunderstandings Requires insight into others' thoughts, motivations, and concerns Allows you to see or feel others' behavior in the frame of that person's cultural beliefs and value system

FIVE DIMENSIONS OF OPERATIONAL CULTURE

While cultures are diverse and complex, each is organized according to a predictable set of dimensions. Marines should be familiar with the cultural dimensions of their operational environment. Each culture has unique features; to better understand these features, the Marine Corps organizes them into a model called the Five Dimensions of Operational Culture. This five dimension model: Can be used to learn and organize knowledge about any culture Focuses on the people of the AO and their interactions and relationship with each dimension

THE EVOLUTION OF WAR

While the nature of war is constant, the means and methods we use evolve continuously. The operating environments, tactics, and techniques have changed as mankind and technology have become more developed. Technology advancements are major catalysts of change. Drastic changes in war have occurred due to developments that dramatically upset the equilibrium of war. For example: Development and use of the rifled bore Conception and use of conscription to man armies Use of modern modes of transportation to support war Marine leaders must continue to educate themselves and use this evolution process to their advantage. As an NCO, you must remain proactive in your efforts to develop new skills and learn to apply them in the execution of your daily duties.

UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF WAR

A common view of war among Marines is a necessary base for the development of a cohesive warfighting doctrine. As Marines, our approach to the conduct of war derives from our understanding of the nature of war and its characteristics and demands. Each episode in war is a unique interaction of physical, moral, and mental forces.

Transportation, Communication, and Infrastructure

All cultural groups have devised specific methods for transferring goods, people, and information. The particular means of conveyance—by traditional means or by modern technology—is intimately related to the way local people interact with and use their physical environment. Methods of transportation are linked to trade routes and communication networks in a region. Understanding these networks can significantly help Marines to make sense of patterns of activity in their region. While it is important for Marines to look for local means of transmitting information, they should also avoid underestimating the technological expertise and capacity of foreign populations to use modern media to promote their agenda. Questions for consideration about transportation and communication: - What infrastructure exists to enable people to move about (footpaths, roads, harbors, etc.)? - Are there any major centers (markets, churches, mosques) where people gather to hear and exchange information?

Norms, Mores, and Taboos

All cultural groups have written or implicit rules about what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Marines should have a basic cultural understanding of an AO's social norms, mores, and taboos. Social norms are cultural expectations about how one should behave in a given situation. Norms can be seen as social guidelines that most people usually follow. However, norms are not rigid, and people may accidentally or deliberately ignore the norms with minor repercussions. Mores (pronounced mor-ay) are an implicit or explicit rule regarding permissible or forbidden behavior. In contrast to norms, violations of a cultural mores usually provoke serious repercussions. Social ostracism, physical attacks, or even death may result from challenging mores. Taboos are activities or the use of physical objects that are explicitly forbidden. Taboos are generally based on religious notions of permissible and impermissible objects and activities. In contrast to mores, taboos are rarely about "what you should/must do," but are about "what you should/must not do."

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

All cultures assign people different roles, status, and power within the group. The way that roles, relationships, power, and status are reflected within a group is called the social structure. In the U.S., people ideally earn their status or position on the basis of their skills and abilities, but in many parts of the world this is not necessarily the case. In many culture groups, a person's role, status, and power are frequently determined by his or her biological characteristics or social interactions. The following factors often determine social structure: - Age - Gender - Kinship - Tribal membership - Class - Ethnic membership - Religious membership

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

All cultures have developed a unique interdependent relationship with their physical environment. Marines should consider the way a cultural group determines the use of the physical environment. Who has access to operationally relevant features of the physical environment? How does the culture view these resources? For example, land may be privately owned or free to everyone. Important features of the physical environment include: Water Land Food Materials for shelter Climate and seasons Fuel and power Transportation and Communication

Fuel and Power

All societies need fuel to cook, to heat, and to provide light. Today, every country is expected to supply electricity and gasoline to its inhabitants, at least in urban areas. Electric and gasoline supplies are frequently unpredictable in developing countries—and even occasionally in highly developed countries. Inadequate and unequal provision of power are frequently a cause of frustration in many countries. Recognizing the symbolic importance of power in providing legitimacy to the local government, insurgent groups may target power plants to disrupt service and discredit U.S. operations in the region. Questions for consideration about fuel/power: - What are the locally found, or produced, sources of power and fuel? - What is the relationship between local elites and access to/provision of fuel and power? - How does the larger government authority control access to power?

Art of War

An even greater part of the conduct of war falls under the realm of art, which is the employment of creative or intuitive skills. Art includes the creative, situational application of scientific knowledge through judgment and experience, and so the art of war subsumes the science of war. The art of war requires the intuitive ability to grasp the essence of a unique military situation and the creative ability to devise a practical solution. It involves conceiving strategies and tactics and developing plans of action to suit a given situation. This still does not describe the whole phenomenon.

Military and Police

An important issue to remember when working with military and police in foreign cultures is that their ideas of appropriate roles for leadership may be significantly different than Marine concepts of leadership. While the Marine Corps puts a premium on initiative, flexibility, and adaptability throughout the Corps, this is not expected in many military and police organizations in other cultures. The military and police forces of many cultures: Train leaders to follow a carefully planned sequence of steps in the execution of missions. Deviation from these steps is not allowed or appreciated. Expect leaders to have very little interaction with their subordinates in terms of mentoring, addressing their physical and psychological needs, and sharing hardship and stress with them. Do not rely on senior staff NCOs, as this is seen as surrendering power and authority. Recognizing and successfully working with the different cultural norms, leadership, and authority structures are critical to success.

Economy as a Way of Structuring Social Relationships

Another approach to examining economic behavior is a structural approach that examines the ways that economies are related to the environment in which a group lives, and how these economies structure social relationships between people. Unsurprisingly, the economy of a cultural group (the way that people obtain and distribute goods for survival) is intimately related to its physical environment. Experts have identified four main economic systems of people based on the environments in which they live: - Hunter-gatherer: based upon foraging (collecting wild plants and pursuing wild animals) - Pastoralism: based upon the herding of domestic animals - Agriculturalism: based upon the growing of crops - Industrial production: based upon manufacturing, mining, and utilities

Materials for Shelter

Around the world, people build their homes to fit their environment. Builders prefer to use local materials that are easily obtainable and suited to the climate. Building styles and locations reflect experience on living in the region. In constructing buildings in an area of operations, Marines should observe local building techniques to avoid unanticipated disasters, such as setting up a base in a traditional flood zone. Questions for consideration about materials for shelters: - How do structures fit the geographic, climatic, and physical aspects of the environment? - What materials for building, repair, and maintenance are local to the AO? - What are the central tactical implications of building styles, neighborhood layouts, etc.?

Economy as a Network of Exchange

At the center of cultural analyses of economic systems is the concept of exchange. People trade what they have (goods and services) for what they need (goods and services). This network of exchange or trade creates a set of social relationships between people. These relationships in turn form an economic system where goods and services flow. Ultimately, the pattern of exchanges determines who has control of important economic resources or wealth.

Class

Class is a way of stratifying groups of people according to their economic status and power in a society. Certain social characteristics such as the accumulation of goods or other forms of wealth, education, occupation, region of origin, lineage, and social behavior may all be indicators of class. However, since these indicators are culturally coded, class will be based on different characteristics in different societies. Some class systems offer upward mobility to the lower members through education, hard work, or other incentives. Other class systems are rigid (for example, the aristocracies of Europe) and do not permit movement or marriage between classes. Generally, societies whose members feel they can attain upward mobility from working within the system are more stable than societies with rigid class systems, whose members may perceive no opportunities for in-system mobility. The perception of disadvantaged sectors regarding the possibility of in-system—as opposed to system-breaking—upward mobility is important in determining stability of a society.

Climate and Seasons

Climate and the changing seasons may affect more than local building styles, such as cultural lifestyles and activities. In hot climates, such as Mexico and Greece, the social pattern of the noon-day "siesta" sets a daily rhythm that keeps people out of the sun during the middle of the day. Seasons often have a major effect on cultural rhythms. In cultural groups closely tied to the land, spring, and fall may bring planting and harvesting. Marines need to understand seasonal variations to plan operations. Otherwise, they may suddenly discover that all the able-bodied men have disappeared for the harvest as a major Marine construction project is about to begin. Questions for consideration about climate and seasons: - How does the climate influence local attitudes toward—and capabilities for—work, business, and combat? - What is the relationship between climate and season with regard to battle rhythm and operational tempo?

COMMITMENT

Commitment is the spirit of determination found in every Marine. It is what compels Marines to serve our nation and the Corps and to continue on when others quit. Commitment does not take breaks, and it cannot be faked. It measures and proves one's desire, dedication, and faithfulness. Becoming a United States Marine represents the highest level of commitment

CORE VALUES

Core values are based on the firm belief that, as others have said in countless ways, our Corps embodies the spirit and essence of those who have gone before. It is about the belief, shared by all Marines, that there is no higher calling than that of a United States Marine. It is about the traditions of our Corps that we rely upon to help us stay the course and continue the march when the going gets tough. It is about a "band of brothers"—men and women of every race and creed—who epitomize the core values in their daily actions:

COUNTERINSURGENCY

Counterinsurgency is defined as comprehensive civilian and military efforts taken to defeat an insurgency and to address any core grievances. The joint force, in conjunction with civilian agencies, will conduct military, political, economic, and information-related actions as well as civic actions to defeat an insurgency. The joint force may lead COIN operations or it may support the host-nation's COIN operations. The primary focus of effort for the joint force is to establish security, counter subversion, and disrupt the insurgency and its external support network. As it establishes security, the joint force will also help build the host-nation's ability to provide security and support development and governance to gain or maintain its legitimacy

COUNTERTERRORISM

Counterterrorism is defined as actions taken directly against terrorist networks and indirectly to influence and render global and regional environments inhospitable to terrorist networks. The joint force will conduct lethal and non-lethal operations against terrorists and their networks to deter, disrupt, and defeat terrorists and their enablers. The focus of effort in counterterrorism is to capture or kill terrorists to permanently remove them from a position of damaging influence in the populace. This focus of joint force operations will be to first identify and understand the terrorist network's leadership, affiliate groups, local organizations, radicalized individuals, and supporters and enablers, and then undertake continuous action as part of a global counterterrorist network that uses a broad set of interagency and multinational partner capabilities.

FRICTION

Countless factors make war difficult to conduct. Collectively, these factors are called friction. Friction: Is the force that resists all action and saps energy. It makes the simple difficult and the difficult seemingly impossible Can be mental or physical Can be external or self-imposed Whatever form it takes war is a human enterprise; therefore, friction will always have a psychological as well as a physical impact.

CROSS-CULTURE COMPETENCE

Cross-cultural competence refers to your ability to understand people from different cultures and effectively engage with them. Being able to communicate and work with people across cultures is a common combat skill required of all Marines. Cross-cultural competence helps you develop the mutual understanding and human relationships that are necessary for accomplishing your mission. The Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning (CAOCL) has identified a set of four useful skills to improve cross-culture competence in operational environments.

DEFINE CULTURE

Culture is defined as the shared world view and social structure of a group of people that influence a person's and a group's actions and choices. This definition emphasizes that cultural beliefs and social structures influence people's actions and choices. By focusing on the outcome of cultural beliefs and structures—the actions that people take—this definition provides Marines with an observable behavior, rather than an unobservable belief system, that can be incorporated into operational planning. The word "culture" not only refers to the meanings and beliefs that people hold, but sometimes to a specific group of people. To distinguish this meaning, we need to define a culture group. A culture group is a group of people whose common world view unites them in a system of social structures and shared behaviors.

DISORDER

Disorder is an inherent characteristic of war; we can never eliminate it. In the heat of battle, plans will go awry, instructions and information will be unclear and misinterpreted, communications will fail, and mistakes and unforeseen events will be commonplace. It is precisely this natural disorder which creates the conditions ripe for exploitation by an opportunistic will. If we are to win, we must be able to operate in a disorderly environment. In fact, we must not only be able to fight effectively in the face of disorder, we should seek to generate disorder and use it as a weapon against our opponent.

By historical standards, the modern battlefield is particularly __________.

Disorderly

Banana Wars

During the Banana Wars in Latin America, many Marines became fluent in Spanish or Creole French to gain assistance from the local population. These experiences in Haiti, Cuba, Panama, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua resulted in the publication of the Marine Corps Small Wars Manual.

FLUIDITY

Each episode in war is the temporary result of a unique combination of circumstances, presenting a unique set of problems and requiring an original solution. Since war is a fluid phenomenon, its conduct requires flexibility of thought. Success depends in large part on the ability to adapt—to proactively shape changing events to our advantage as well as to react quickly to constantly changing conditions. The tempo of war will fluctuate from periods of intense combat to periods in which activity is limited to information gathering, replenishment, or redeployment. A competitive rhythm will develop between the opposing wills with each belligerent trying to influence and exploit tempo and the continuous flow of events to suit their purposes.

Ethnic Membership

Ethnicity is the identification of an individual with a unique subgroup in a society. It is distinguished by specific behaviors, characteristics, and social symbols that can include, but do not require, a language specific to the group; symbols reflecting group membership or carrying hidden meaning for group members; unique traditions, rituals, and holidays; clothing or dress unique to the group; a shared sense or memory of history—often enshrined in mythical stories or folk tales; and attachment to a place or region that holds symbolic meaning. In theory, a person is born into a specific ethnic group and remains a part of that group for life. But in reality, people have options for the degree to which they affiliate with a specific ethnic group. Due to intermarriage, for instance, a person may belong to more than one ethnic group. Humans move, and national lines also move over time. Although the world is divided according to countries with official borders, ethnic groups may be split across these borders. As a result, in many states people are loyal to groups across the border: citizenship is no obstacle to loyalty to ethnically similar groups in other countries.

CREATING AND EXPLOITING OPPORTUNITY

Exploiting opportunity is the ability and willingness to ruthlessly exploit an opportunity to generate decisive results. At times, it may be difficult to identify the enemy's critical vulnerabilities. We may attack each vulnerability until an opportunity arises. NCOs that understand the theory and nature of war will be better equipped to anticipate, create, recognize, and exploit fleeting opportunities. The ability to take advantage of opportunity is a function of: - Speed - Boldness - Flexibility - Initiative A technically and tactically proficient NCO empowered to think critically and make decisions is critical to creating and ruthlessly exploiting opportunities that generate decisive results.

FOREIGN INTERNAL DEFENSE

Foreign internal defense, or FID, is defined as participation by civilian and military agencies of a government in any of the action programs taken by another government or other designated organization to free and protect its society from subversion, lawlessness, insurgency, terrorism, and other threats to its security. While the Department of State will generally lead efforts that support the sovereign host-nation government's defense and development plan, the joint force will often focus on the military element of FID to build the host-nation's security capacity, from the ministerial to tactical level. It may, if requested, also support civilian-led efforts to improve the host-nation's governance and development capacity, for example by providing advisory assistance outside of the security sector in support of interagency requirements.

DEFINE HYBRID WARFARE

Hybrid warfare is not an official DoD term and is not defined in Joint Pub 1-02, but the term has been used in recent joint and Service documents. The term hybrid warfare has been used to describe the increasing complexity of conflict that will require a highly adaptable and resilient response from U.S. forces; however, it is not considered a distinct form of warfare. Hybrid warfare blends traditional and irregular warfare approaches across the full spectrum of conflict.

Formal and Informal Economic Systems

In every AO you will find two economies: The first is a formal economy that is regulated, taxed, and measured by the government. Most official government economic statistics are based on the formal economy. The second is the informal economy that is not regulated, taxed, or controlled by the government. - The informal economy often mixes semi-legal and illegal activities. Semi-legal activities include selling food at a market without a license. Illegal activities include drug smuggling and bribery. - It is important to recognize that most insurgent activities are funded through the informal economy

Religious Membership

In many ways, religious membership can be considered a special form of ethnicity—in fact, often those who affiliate with religions as social communities may have difficulty in distinguishing their religious membership from something akin to ethnicity. Religious membership should be distinguished from religious belief systems. It is entirely possible for someone to hold a specific religious belief system and never belong to a religious community. There are many people who belong to a religious community, attend church, or other formal religious activities and have little personal faith or connection to the belief system. Therefore, we define religious membership as being part of a group of people that considers itself united by religious faith.

Conceptions of Law and Justice

In the U.S., we are familiar with a Western legal system of justice. In this system, we have a set of formal laws that are written down and voted upon by our government. We have a justice system composed of police who apprehend supposed criminals, and courts, lawyers, and judges that decide whether or not a person has broken the law and what their punishment will be. In many parts of the world, however, people have other forms of law that may not use written codes, courts, or lawyers. For example, tribal law is usually not written down. Decisions may be made by a council of community members, and punishments may not result in a prison sentence, but may require the guilty person to pay money to the injured party. There may be competing systems of justice within your AO. Often, the local people may consider the formal court legal system to be corrupt, and prefer to hand out punishment through traditional methods. These methods may seem harsh or even contradict international law.

Future

In the coming decades, Marines can expect to deploy to countries throughout the globe to conduct missions across the military spectrum. These operations will demand continuous improvements in the skills needed for dealing with foreign populations. Mission success will require Marines to be able to recognize and leverage the cultural factors in their environment. Developing skills in applying operational culture—ranging from tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to key leader engagements planning—is as essential to mission success as marksmanship

WARFIGHTING AND LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHIES

It is difficult to separate our warfighting philosophy from our leadership philosophy as they are inextricably intertwined. Our leadership style is a unique blend of Service ethos and time-tested concepts that support Marine leaders in peace and war. A primary goal of Marine Corps leadership is to instill in all Marines that we are warriors first. The reason that the United States of America needs a Marine Corps is to fight and win wars.

OPERATIONAL CULTURE IN MISSION PLANNING

It is not the purpose of operational culture to provide specific steps that Marines are expected to follow in applying culture to military operations. To the contrary, Marines must use principles of culture in a flexible and creative manner to achieve operational success. There is no single formula or checklist that can serve Marine purposes across the spectrum of military activities around the world. "One size fits all" does not suit the application of culture to the spectrum of Marine involvement in foreign AOs. Just as operational and strategic planning requires an intuitive understanding of the process, incorporating culture into operations is equally an intellectually informed "art" as it is a "science." Cultural knowledge can help produce courses of action that generate less friction with the local populace or foreign counterpart. This should help facilitate the accomplishment of your mission. When planning operations, remember that influencing one dimension will often affect other dimensions.

Land

Land, from a cultural perspective, is much more than physical geography. For many cultural groups, certain places hold a symbolic meaning that is significantly greater than the simple physical features of terrain. Land may not only have symbolic meanings that outsiders do not recognize, but the use and ownership of land may differ between cultures. For certain groups around the world, the idea of landownership is foreign to their cultural world view. Therefore, understandings of ownership, use, and legal status of land are culturally coded, with potential operational ramifications. Questions for consideration about land: - What are the symbolic meanings of certain sub-districts in the AO, and how do groups within the AO view this symbolism differently? - What are particular land formations that are visually striking, with local significance?

LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY

Leading Marines describes a leadership philosophy that reflects the traditional strengths of the Marine Corps as an institution and attempts to define the very ethos of being a Marine. Marine leadership philosophy: Is about the inseparable relationship between the leader and the led, and is as much about the individual Marine—the bedrock upon which our Corps is built—as it is about any leader Captures the undefinable spirit that forms the character of our Corps—being a Marine comes from the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor that is tattooed on the soul of every one of us after earning the title United States Marine Is based upon certain fundamental traits and principles of leading—Marines are not born knowing them, but must learn what they are and what they represent

Formal vs Informal Leadership

Many societies around the world do not have centralized leadership systems. Indeed, they may not have an obvious leader at all. Furthermore, even if a formal leader is designated, he or she may not be the actual effective leader—in the sense of the person who gets things done or issues directions for people to follow. Marines must be aware that there is often a distinct difference between the person who is designated to lead versus the person who actually leads. Formal Leaders: These leaders receive official recognition by the political structure and community. Often, formal leaders have titles such as "mayor," "colonel," or "police chief," and may wear symbols such as badges or special clothing, indicating their status within the community. Typically, formal leaders have special offices or places to receive guests and receive various legitimate financial and other regularized benefits from their position. Informal Leaders: These leaders may not carry titles and symbols indicating their status, and their offices and spaces may not obviously indicate a person of power to an outsider. They may hold a formal position or status that is significantly lower or different from their actual authority and power. However, despite their lack of official trappings, informal leaders may carry more power and have more influence over the community than formal leaders.

Huk Rebellion

Marines successfully assisted the Philippine government by working alongside Filipino security forces to end the Huk Rebellion (1946-1954), a communist-led insurgency. Their success was due in part to the unconventional methods employed through the Filipino-American partnership. The counterinsurgency used Marines and Filipino security forces to distribute relief goods and other forms of aid to outlying, provincial communities. This fostered support against the insurgents.

Collective Memory and Folklore

Most basically, history is what happened in the past. The history of an AO is important to Marines. However, in context with operational culture, history is less important than understanding collective memory. Collective memory consists of the selective memories and beliefs that groups have about their past and the meanings they assign to those memories. It is reflected in narratives, stories, and folklore. Historical stories (and quasi-historical tales such as myths, legends, and folklore) are important keys to revealing underlying cultural themes and beliefs. Folklore is a group's collection of stories, sayings, and narratives of history passed down through the generations. Each generation receives this inheritance, imbues it with new meaning, and adds new narratives based on new collective experiences. Folklore and myths serve to reinforce, transmit, and even change cultural values from generation to generation.

Food

People can limit access to food, particularly in the context of conflict. Food is therefore explicitly significant to Marine operations. Control of food during times of scarcity is a central lever of influence in counterinsurgency and other hybrid war conditions. Food scarcity can be real or created to control people and their loyalties. Questions for consideration about food: - What are the local staples, and what is the required labor to grow, prepare, and serve them? - Which kinds of locally accepted foods are considered strange, dangerous, or not food to Marines? - Which foods have ritual significance?

Water

Perhaps no other physical resource is more precious than water. Clearly, water is a major source of conflict around the world. Conflict over water often has a technical or access-related aspect to it, particularly to external observers. Beyond the technical aspects, however, cultural and political elements are often at play. This could involve notions of access, control, and use as related to ideas of sovereignty, historical rights, and past feuds. Questions for consideration about water: - What are the cultural rules about water's use? - What is the scarcity of water in relation to intensity of use? - What roles are expected of Marines with respect to the use of water and provisions? - Who in the AO has customarily controlled access to water, and how have they used that for power, influence, etc.?

POLITICAL STRUCTURE

Political structure is defined as the way power and leadership are apportioned to people and exercised according to the social structure of the society. Politics works differently for each individual culture. For example, the way that a culture group determines who has power and control and how that power is legitimized and exerted can vary between cultures. To understand the political structures and relations in an AO, Marines need to distinguish between the concepts of power and authority: Power is the ability to control or influence the behavior of individuals or groups of people. Authority is the legal or popularly granted permission to exercise power. It is legitimacy in the exercise of power.

Be Culturally Self-aware

Remain aware of the fact that you see the world in a particular way because of your own background, personal history, and culture. People see, interpret, and evaluate situations in different ways. What is considered an appropriate behavior in one culture is frequently inappropriate in another. Misunderstandings arise when people use their own reality to make sense of someone else's reality. Misinterpretations can occur when people lack awareness of their own behavioral rules and project them upon others. In the absence of basic cultural knowledge, people tend to assume instead of learning what a behavior means to the person involved. For example, a straight look into a person's face is disrespectful in Japan. For this reason, the first step of cross-cultural communication is to assess yourself.

Which IW activity is defined as an overarching term encompassing various military missions, tasks, and activities conducted outside the United States in coordination with other instruments of national power to maintain or reestablish a safe and secure environment, provide essential governmental services, emergency infrastructure reconstruction, and humanitarian relief?

Stability operations

STABILITY OPERATIONS

Stability operations is an overarching term encompassing various military missions, tasks, and activities conducted outside the United States in coordination with other instruments of national power to maintain or reestablish a safe and secure environment, provide essential governmental services, emergency infrastructure reconstruction, and humanitarian relief. The Department of State (DoS) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will be the lead U.S. agencies to support a host-nation's efforts to establish or improve key aspects of governance to include rule of law and a variety of services. In a large-scale effort, a shortage of personnel from non-Department of Defense (DoD) agencies may require the use of DoD personnel, including civilians and reservists, who possess critical non-military skills in governance, rule of law, and development.

21st CENTURY MARINE

The 21st century Marine Corps must continue to serve the country, as its predecessors have, with laser-like focus on the warfighting excellence of the individual Marine and combined arms MAGTFs. As we continue to transform to a higher level of warfighting excellence, we will: Carefully preserve our ethos and core values. Combine the value we provide today with the promise of what we can achieve tomorrow to attain a Marine Corps that is optimized to be expeditionary and respond to crises: - Ready to deploy immediately and reinforce quickly - Comfortable in the chaos and uncertainty of crisis - Able to adapt rapidly to changing conditions - Operates effectively in any clime and place - Exploits the advantages of being fast, austere, and lethal

Anbar Awakening

The Al-Anbar Awakening is an example of opportunity cultivated and seized by leaders that challenged assumptions and sought a better alternative: Ultimately, Iraqis and Americans came to work together in an unlikely alliance of former adversaries, for the stabilization and redevelopment of Al-Anbar province. Success demanded acute cultural awareness that allowed Marines to identify fissures within Anbari society and use effective applications of population-centric counterinsurgency doctrine that aimed to neutralize the enemy's influence over the local inhabitants. Unfortunately, this awareness was only gained after years of exposure to the local population. Violence in Al-Anbar escalated after the withdrawal of U.S. troops, resulting in violent conflict with the central government and sectarian violence among Iraq's religious groups.

OPERATION OVERLORD

The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944 brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest invasion force in human history. The operation, given the code name OVERLORD, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France. The beaches were given the code names UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO, and SWORD. The invasion force included 7,000 ships and landing craft manned by over 195,000 naval personnel from eight allied countries. Almost 133,000 troops from England, Canada, and the United States landed on D-Day. Casualties from the three countries during the landing numbered 10,300. By June 30th, over 850,000 men, 148,000 vehicles, and 570,000 tons of supplies had landed on the Normandy shores. Fighting by the brave soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the allied forces Western Front, and Russian forces on the Eastern Front, led to the defeat of German Nazi forces. On May 7, 1945, German General Alfred Jodl signed an unconditional surrender at Reims, France.

Lioness Program

The Lioness program was a team of female Marines initially used in Iraq to search female Iraqis for concealed weapons and contraband items during a wide variety of missions. Cultural norms in Muslim nations often restrict direct interaction of adult men and women, reducing the ability of coalition forces to directly communicate with women and consequently focusing military interaction almost exclusively on the male population. Lioness teams increased security measures by addressing the female population that was previously unapproachable due to cultural sensitivities. These teams have evolved into Female Engagement Teams in Afghanistan which were used to interact with the Afghan women to build relationships, collect information regarding village atmospherics. Their efforts created an accepting environment between the Marines and the local Afghan population.

OPERATIONAL CULTURE

The Marine Corps defines operational culture as the aspects of culture that influence the outcome of a military operation and conversely, the military actions that influence the culture within an area of operations, or AO. Operational culture can be used by Marines to better understand an AO and to plan and execute across the operational spectrum. Culture affects military operations regardless of where the operation is located. Operational culture consists of: Operationally relevant behavior, relationships and perceptions of indigenous security forces who Marines operate against or with, civilian populations Marines operate among, indigenous communities or groups Marines wish to influence, and international partners in coalition operations Dimensions that influence operationally relevant behavior, conduct, and attitudes Historical trends that influence the interaction among cultural dimensions The capability to successfully plan and execute humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, pre-hostility, shaping operations, successive campaign phases, and post hostilities which include reconstruction, stabilization, and peace-making or -keeping

WARFIGHTING PHILOSOPHY

The Marine Corps warfighting philosophy, maneuver warfare, is based on rapid, flexible, and opportunistic maneuver capabilities. Maneuver warfare seeks to shatter the enemy's cohesion through a series of rapid, violent, and unexpected actions which create a turbulent and rapidly deteriorating situation with which the enemy cannot cope. Besides traits such as endurance and courage that all warfare demands, maneuver warfare puts a premium on certain particular human skills and traits. It requires: - The temperament to cope with uncertainty. - Flexibility of mind to deal with fluid and disorderly situations. - A willingness to act with initiative and boldness. - The moral courage to accept responsibility for this type of behavior.

FUTURE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

The future operating environment will be one of constant and accelerating change. Economic, demographic, resource, climate, and other trends will engender competition locally, regionally, and globally. Global integration, intense nationalism, and religious movements will likely exacerbate the tensions created by each of these trends. Of particular concern are: - Failed and failing states, which could lead to more "ungoverned spaces" and become safe havens for terrorists, criminals, and groups engaged in other illicit activities - Rogue states that use proxies, which allow the state to distance itself from actions and achieve strategic aims simultaneously

THE HUMAN DIMENSION

The human dimension is central in war. It is the human dimension which infuses war with its intangible moral factors. War is shaped by human nature and is subject to the complexities, inconsistencies, and peculiarities that characterize human behavior. War is an extreme trial of moral and physical strength and stamina. Individuals and groups of people react differently to the stress of war; an act that may break the will of one enemy may only serve to stiffen the resolve of another. Human will, instilled through leadership, is the driving force of all action in war.

TACTICAL

The lowest level is the tactical level. Tactics refers to the techniques and methods for accomplishing a particular mission. Tactics focus on defeating the enemy at a particular place and time. Tactics are focused on winning battles. Most Marines, from rifleman to MEF commander, operate at the tactical level, but many tactical decisions have operational and even strategic implications. The levels of war overlap and affect each other from the top down and from the bottom up.

OBJECTIVE OF WAR

The objective of war is to impose our will on our enemy. The means to this end is the organized application or threat of violence by military force. The target of that violence may be limited to hostile combatant forces or it may extend to the enemy population at large. War may range from intense clashes between large military forces—sometimes backed by an official declaration of war—to subtler, unconventional hostilities that barely reach the threshold of violence.

OPERATIONAL

The operational level of war links tactics and strategy. At the operational level, we decide where, when, and under what conditions we will meet the enemy. The operational level is focused on winning campaigns.

STRATEGIC

The strategic level involves national strategy and military strategy. National strategy sets policy objectives and mobilizes the nation's resources for attaining these goals. Military strategy focuses on the military means for attaining policy goals. At the strategic level, forces are distributed and theaters of war are established.

STYLES OF WAR

The styles of warfare exist on a spectrum between attrition and maneuver. Attrition seeks to wear down an enemy's material resources. Maneuver warfare seeks to circumvent problems and attack them from a position of advantage. Maneuver warfare seeks to paralyze the enemy system. In maneuver warfare: Enemy strengths are avoided and weaknesses are exploited. Speed and surprise are used to create and exploit an advantage, which often involves greater risk. Firepower and attrition are necessary when our forces are focused upon particular elements of the enemy's forces.

Dynamic of War

There is far more to the conduct of war than can be explained by art and science. Art and science stop short of explaining the fundamental dynamic of war. The essential dynamic of war is the dynamic of competitive human interaction rather than the dynamic of art or science. Human beings interact with each other in ways that are fundamentally different from the way a scientist works with chemicals or formulas or the way an artist works with paints or musical notes. It is because of this dynamic of human interaction that fortitude, perseverance, boldness, esprit, and other traits not explainable by art or science are so essential in war.

IRREGULAR WARFARE ACTIVITIES

These are the preferred activities for addressing irregular threats because they are typically sustained activities that focus on the population and are conducted with other partners. The five activities may be undertaken in sequence, in parallel, or in partial or blended form as needed to address the specific circumstances. This holistic application of the five activities characterizes the approach to irregular threats, which have often proven impervious to the singular application of any one of the five. Counterterrorism operations, for example, do not normally eradicate the threat or engender lasting stability without complementary efforts to address drivers of conflict and build host-nation capacity.

LEADERSHIP AND ETHICAL IMPERATIVES

These final rules will help to form your unit's character and must be engrained in each unit member and every action. The final rules of leadership and ethical imperatives are: No better friend, no worse enemy: There is no better friend to the populace and no worse enemy to the insurgent. First, do no harm: Avoid and prevent the killing or wounding of innocents. This is inherent to our mission. The people are not the enemy, but our enemy hides amongst them. Professionalism: Our actions and appearance demonstrate our professionalism at all times. We are confident, alert, and proficient. We fully understand the nature of the fight, the rightness of our cause, and are ready to show our courage to those friendly and enemy observers watching our every move. Consistent and continuous application of individual and small unit discipline and tactical skills: These skills include use of micro- terrain, covering each other's back, understanding the value of cover and local security in relation to the enemy's ability to gain an advantage, and understanding that urban combat is all about angles. Complacency kills, and it only takes a moment of inattention for complacency to take its toll. Teach your Marines to be hard to kill.

Which of the following is defined as a form of warfare between the regulated militaries of states, or alliances of states, in which the objective is to defeat an adversary's armed forces, destroy an adversary's war-making capacity, or seize or retain territory in order to force a change in an adversary's government or policies?

Traditional warfare

DEFINE TRADITIONAL WARFARE

Traditional warfare is defined as a form of warfare between the regulated militaries of states, or alliances of states, in which the objective is to defeat an adversary's armed forces, destroy an adversary's war-making capacity, or seize or retain territory to force a change in an adversary's government or policies. World War II is generally considered a traditional conflict because it largely involved conventional combat among the forces of nation-states, yet it also had irregular aspects. For example, it included partisans in the Philippines, France, and Yugoslavia as well as non-state entities, such as the Chinese Communists, fielding major forces to oppose both their own nationalist countrymen and the Japanese.

Tribal Membership

Tribal membership is a particular type of kinship. Tribes have a number of critical features that separate them from other large kinship groups: First, tribes must have a corporate identity; they must not only recognize that they share a common real (or fictive) ancestor, but also consider that their common lineage bonds them together as a functioning group. Second, people must use this corporate identity as a structuring principle for their group. Individuals must be given a position and role within the tribal structure according to their place within the lineage, some lines of the tribe being considered of lower or higher status than other lines. Third, the group will have a formal leader or set of leaders, designated to speak for the group, who are selected, at least in part, on the basis of their inherited position within the tribe. Marines should realize that marriage affects kin groups, in any specific community a person may belong to more than one tribe or kin group. Hence "tribal affiliation" is not a fixed status but a fluid and changing concept

Which of the following is defined as the activities conducted to enable a resistance movement or insurgency to coerce, disrupt, or overthrow a government or occupying power by operating through or with an underground, auxiliary, and guerrilla force in a denied area?

Unconventional warfare

UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE

Unconventional warfare is defined as activities conducted to enable a resistance movement or insurgency to coerce, disrupt, or overthrow a government or occupying power by operating through or with an underground, auxiliary, and guerrilla force in a denied area. The joint force may employ unconventional warfare to counter irregular threats, such as states that wage irregular or proxy warfare. Pursuant to a national policy decision, the joint force may conduct unconventional warfare to: Induce change in a foreign government's behavior that is contrary to U.S. national interests. Isolate, destabilize, or undermine a hostile foreign government. Enable the overthrow of a hostile regime or a shadow government or force the withdrawal of an occupying power by supporting an insurgency.

Science of War

Various aspects of war fall within the realm of science, which is the methodical application of the empirical laws of nature. The science of war includes those activities directly subject to the laws of ballistics, mechanics, and similar disciplines. For example, the application of fires, the effects of weapons, and the rates and methods of movement and resupply. However, science does not describe the whole phenomenon.

Age

Virtually every cultural group around the world assigns a different role, status, and task to people on the basis of their age. However, not all cultural groups define age and age-appropriate roles in the same way. In many parts of the world, not only do children work at a young age, but they may participate in military and insurgent activities at ages that most Americans would consider completely unacceptable. Marines must also evaluate the cultural roles of adults and the elderly. In contrast to many Western cultures that value youth and newness as possessing the potential for innovation and progress, many societies revere the elderly. This is particularly true in Asian countries.

Kinship

Virtually every cultural group around the world identifies members as belonging to a family or kin group. In the United States, when we refer to family, most Americans mean the nuclear family. However, even in the U.S., most people would consider their family to include extended relatives: grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, in-laws, and so on. In many non-western culture groups, the concept of family is extended even further. Not only may other culture groups hold a wider definition of who is in one's family, but the way that people are considered "related" is culturally based. In many countries, kinship is a major factor in a person's ability to find a job, get a promotion, rise to a position of power or authority, or even to gain access to essential goods and services such as water or medical care. Specific kin groups may control access to important physical resources such as land, water holes, mountain passes, farmland or grazing areas, and even the right to raise certain crops or harvest trees, such as coconut or date palms.

COMPLEXITY

War is a complex phenomenon. We have described war as essentially a clash between opposed wills. A division is comprised of regiments, a regiment is comprised of battalions, and so on all the way down to individual Marines. Similarly, a wing is compromised of groups, groups are comprised of squadrons, down to the actions of individual Marines. Each element is part of a larger whole and must cooperate with other elements for the accomplishment of the common goal. At the same time, each has its own mission; must adapt to its own situation; and must deal with friction, uncertainty, and disorder. As a result, war is not governed by the actions or decisions of a single individual in any one place but emerges from the collective behavior of all the individual parts in the system interacting locally in response to local conditions and incomplete information. Efforts to fully centralize military operations and to exert complete control by a single decision-maker are inconsistent with the complex and distributed nature of war

VIOLENCE AND DANGER

War is among the greatest horrors known to humanity. The means of war is force, applied in the form of organized violence. It is through the use of violence, or the credible threat of violence, that we compel our enemy to do our will. Violence is an essential element of war, and its immediate result is bloodshed, destruction, and suffering. While the magnitude of violence may vary with the object and means of war, the violent essence of war will never change. Since war is a violent enterprise, danger is ever present. The human reaction to danger—fear— has a significant impact on the conduct of war. Everybody feels fear. Courage is not the absence of fear; rather, it is the strength to overcome fear. Leaders must foster the courage to overcome fear, both individually and within the unit.

WAR AS AN ACT OF POLICY

War is an extension of both policy and politics with the addition of military force. Policy and politics are related but not synonymous. Politics refers to the distribution of power through dynamic interaction, both cooperative and competitive. Policy refers to the objectives established within the political process. We should recognize that war is not an inanimate instrument, but an animate force which may likely have unintended consequences that may change the political situation. The single most important thought to understand about our theory of war is that war must serve policy.

PHYSICAL, MORAL, AND MENTAL FORCES

War is characterized by the interaction of physical, moral, and mental forces. Physical forces of war are easily recognized, such as men and materiel. Moral factors, such as a nation's resolve and a unit's morale, are harder to grasp. The term "moral" as used here is not restricted to ethics, although ethics are certainly included, but pertains to those forces of a psychological rather than tangible nature. Mental factors affect our ability to out-think our enemy. Just because the moral and mental factors are difficult to quantify does not mean that they can be neglected. The moral and mental forces exert a greater influence on the nature and outcome of war.

WAR DEFINED

War is defined as a violent clash of interests between or among organized groups characterized by the use of military force. These groups have traditionally been established nation-states, but they also include any non-state group—such as an international coalition or a faction within or outside of an existing state—with its own political interests and the ability to generate organized violence on a scale sufficient to have significant political consequences. The essence of war is a violent struggle between two hostile, independent, and irreconcilable wills, each trying to impose itself on the other. It is critical to keep in mind that the enemy is not an inanimate object to be acted upon but an independent and animate force with its own objectives and plans. Appreciating this dynamic interplay between opposing human wills is essential to understanding the fundamental nature of war.

COURAGE

When other principles are tested, it is courage that prevents them from crumbling. It is not about ignoring fear but being stronger than fear. Courage is the guardian of all other values. It is there when times are toughest, when difficult decisions have to be made. It takes the form of mental, physical, and ethical strength, and it is found in the backbone of every Marine.

Gender

With very few exceptions, every culture assigns different roles and work to men and women. Although this distinction would seem to be a natural biological one, the roles that men and women are assigned around the world vastly vary. Gender differentiation has implications for the dress, work, and social activities of men and women in a culture and may also influence the spaces that each sex may occupy. The critical gender issue becomes not what men do or what women do—because so much of that is region, personality, and context specific—but understanding the gendered, complementary, and symbiotic relationship between them. To plan for operations in a region, Marines need to assume that both genders will play meaningful roles that affect operations. To be successful (particularly in Muslim and Latin American cultures), Marines may find that including both males and females in their operational teams will allow them access to critical domains and activities that single gender teams cannot enter.

Manage Your Cultural Attitudes

You don't have to like another culture. However, you do have to remain aware of your reactions to values and customs that are different from your own. Being culturally self-aware and attempting to perceive things from the point of view of other cultures can help you manage your attitudes. By suspending judgements, you are able to collect as much information as possible to accurately understand the situation before evaluating it.