Category Lesson Reports & SOLLIMS Samplers

Lesson Report: September 2019

Officers participating in Exercise Regional Cooperation 2019 (RC19), collaborate on a mission plan
in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, August 13, 2019. RC19 promotes security and stability in the Central and
South Asian region and includes participants from Mongolia, Tajikistan, United States and Uzbekistan and observers from Pakistan. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Jennifer Shick)

This Strategic Planning for Peacekeeping and Stability Operations (PSO) Lessons Learned Report supports the release of Army Doctrine Publication ADP 3-07, Stability in July, 2019. As stated in ADP 1 The Army “organizes, trains, and equips the force to conduct offensive, defensive, and stability operations . . .” (ADP 3-07, p. v) overseas as part of, unified land operations, the Army’s contribution to the conduct of joint operations, or Unified Action. “Stability is the set of conditions in which a local populace regards its governance institutions as legitimate and its living situation as acceptable and predictable.” (ADP 3-07, p. 1-1)

To read or download the full report please click on the following links.

PKSOI Lesson Report: Conflict Prevention

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, right, Oregon, speaks with Larry André,
U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, and his wife Ouroukou Younoussi André during a visit to the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, March 26, 2018. Merkley visited with service members at Camp Lemonnier before continuing his trip to other locations in East Africa. As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Merkley’s visit focused on the critical role that U.S. assistance plays as he examined famine-like conditions, severe food shortages, internally displaced persons and refugees in each location and how these factors affect counter-terrorism efforts within the
CTJF-HOA area of responsibility.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Moore)

This Conflict Prevention Lessons Learned Report uses a unique organizational approach. Rather than a conventional chronological or topical style, we’ve opted to present a lead lesson based on a study by the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) entitled “Preventing Extremism in Fragile States: A New Ap-proach.” Supported by the analysis and recommendations presented in the study, a bipartisan group of Congress members recently introduced the Global Fragility Act of 2019 bill that requires the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Department of Defense to coordinate on a global initiative aimed at stabilizing conflict affected areas and preventing the violence and fragility that allow terrorists, criminal networks, and war lords to take hold in the first place. It provides for Congressionally-mandated funding and executive branch organization to prevent conflict in much the same way 1986’s Goldwater-Nichols Act helped the Department of Defense focus its Joint warfighting capability. Thirty-three years after Goldwater-Nichols, the U.S. arguably possesses the most integrated, powerful military force in the world. The Global Fragility Act similarly promises to provide Congressional and Executive Branch support for a holistic approach based on the principle of unity of effort to stopping terrorist conflict before it even starts.

To read the full report please click on the link below.

Lesson Report: “Stage-setting” and “Right-sizing” for Stability – Learn the “Right Lessons”

“Stage-setting” and “right-sizing” are critical to the success of any major Stability operation. The
U.S. Government needs to learn the right lessons, and the right lessons do not come from Iraq or
Afghanistan. Operation Iraq Freedom (OIF) was a total failure. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and
Resolute Support (RS) were likewise total failures. The U.S. Government would be wise to learn the
right lessons – which come from Operation Joint Endeavor and the Implementation Force (IFOR) in
Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1995-1996. “Stage-setting” and “right-sizing” were done smartly; resultantly, the
Stability operation was a resounding success. The U.S. Government needs to learn these lessons. To read this Lesson Report click on the link below to download the Lesson Report click on the Download button.

Lesson Report: March 2020 Consolidating Gains

April 2, 2020


This edition of the PKSOI Lessons Learned Report explores the challenges and complexities of Consolidating Gains, an Army strategic role that sets conditions for enduring political and strategic outcomes to military operations. (p. 3-5, ADP 3-0, Operations) Consolidating gains is integral to the conclusion of all military operations, and it requires deliberate planning, preparation, and resources to ensure sustainable success. This planning should ensure US forces operate in a way that actively facilitates achievement of the desired post-hostilities end state and transition of control to legitimate authorities.

Lesson Report: September 2019 – Strategic Planning for Peacekeeping and Stability Operations

September 2, 2019

This Strategic Planning for Peackeeping and Stability Operations (PSO) Lessons Learned Report supports the release of Army Doctrine Publication ADP 3-07, Stability in July, 2019. As stated in ADP 1 The Army “organizes, trains,and equips the force to conduct offensive, defensive, and stability operations . . .” (ADP 3-07, p. v) overseas as part of, unified land operations, the Army’s contribution to the conduct of joint operations, or Unified Action. “Stability is the set of conditions in which a local populace regards its governance institutions as legitimate and its living situation as acceptable and predictable.” (ADP 3-07, p. 1-1)

PKSOI Lesson Report: June 2019 Conflict Prevention

June 18, 2019

This PKSOI Lesson Report: June 2019 Conflict Prevention report uses a unique organizational approach. Rather than a conventional chronological or topical style, we’ve opted to present a lead lesson based on a study by the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) entitled “Preventing Extremism in Fragile States: A New Approach.” Supported by the analysis and recommendations presented in the study, a bipartisan group of Congress members recently introduced the Global Fragility Act of 2019 bill that requires the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Depart-ment of Defense to coordinate on a global initiative aimed at stabilizing conflict affected areas and preventing the violence and fragility that allow terrorists, criminal networks, and war lords to take hold in the first place.

SOLLIMS Sampler Volume 10 Issue 1- Transitional Public Security

This publication provides a selection of lessons on Transitional Public Security (TPS) from several past operations: OEF, OIF, Joint Endeavor, Uphold Democracy, and Just Cause/Promote Liberty.  TPS is a military-led effort to restore civil security, protect the civilian population, and maintain public order until the Joint Force is able to transfer that responsibility to a competent authority.

SOLLIMS Sampler Volume 9 Issue 4- Foreign Humanitarian Assistance: The Complexities of Considerations

This lessons learned compendium contains just a sample – thus the title ‘Sampler’ – of the observations, insights, and lessons related to Foreign Humanitarian Assistance available in the SOLLIMS data repository. These lessons are worth sharing with military commanders and their staffs, as well as with civilian practitioners having a peacekeeping or stability operations related mission or function, such as those currently deployed on stability operations, those planning to deploy, the institutional Army, the Joint community, policy-makers, and other international civilian and military leaders at the national and theater level.