Research for Humanitarian Assistance

'Mission Creep' is a code-word phrase that influences the US government s approach to military operations even though no common definition or understanding exists as to what 'mission creep' means. This research memorandum attempts to shed some light on the term and improve the level of debate surrounding mil tary operations and tasks within these operations. Using NATO operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina as a basis, it examines nine conceptions of 'mission creep', providing examples of the term used in each context and implications of eac h definition. The paper also explores the anxieties and causes of 'mission creep' and provides a framework for understanding and describing the dimensions of mission change.

This handbook presents the Humanitarian and Peace Operations (HPOs) Planning Guide, a tool developed by the Center for Naval Analysis to help operational commanders identify essential tasks in HPOs. The Planning Guide provides practical guidance for identifying essential task -both specified and implied - during crisis action planning and mission execution. The handbook comprises four parts: an introduction of the conceptual basis and practical application of the Planning Guide; a discussion of the key Planning Guide elements and associated issues; a summary of four real-world operations on which this Guide is based; and contact information for key HPO players.

This analysis is intended to support Coast Guard development of a capstone publication that articulates a vision of the Coast Guard of 2020. We present our supporting analysis in the following three sections. In section 2, we describe our view of the purpose and enduring characteristics of the Coast Guard, a sea-going armed service within the Department of Transportation. We believe that any vision of the Coast Guard's future must be consistent with its purpose and enduring characteristics. In section 3, we describe how existing Coast Guard missions will be transformed as the Coast Guard moves into the 21st century. In section 4, we describe alternative plans for the Coast Guard to consider in developing its vision. See also CAB 96-96, CIM 499, and CRM 97-17.

The Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) conducted a study to identify and analyze alternative ways the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) might consider to improve its ability to conduct Humanitarian Assistance Operations (HAOs). To achieve this objective, we (1) examined how the military has conducted HAOs in the past; (2) identified alternative ways the military can conduct these operations; and (3) assessed the relative costs of these alternatives in terms of changes in organization, education and training, doctrine and documentation, and equipment and supplies. The study was co-sponsored by the Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC) and I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). This briefing discusses the role of Civilian Affairs (CA) and Psychological Operations (PSYOP) in HAOs, focusing on what this role means in terms of actual requirements. The briefing presents an overview of general U.S. CA and PSYOP capabilities. It discusses USMC CA and PSYOP capabilities and what these capabilities mean for the ability of the Marine Corps to conduct operations. It also suggests ways to integrate the capabilities of the other services with Marine Corps units to more effectively conduct operations.