OP 7 Easier Said Than Done: Making the Transition Between Combat Operations and Stability Operations

I designed this study to serve as a bridge between the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) found in stability operations “how-to” manuals and the broader military operations other than war (MOOTW) concepts found in joint doctrine. My purpose was to identify key themes that merit consideration when planning or conducting transitions between combat operations and stability operations. I identified these themes by combining a review of joint and US Army stability operations doctrine with a specific case study analysis of the US occupation of Japan from 1945 to 1952 and then extrapolated those themes to current stability operations to assess their applicability. The Japanese occupation is useful as a case study because it required that occupation forces address several challenges similar to those facing current stability operations in the Middle East, such as a fundamental change in governance philosophy, a long-term democratization program, a critical regional security challenge, and a complex economic reconstruction challenge. This analysis is not designed to serve as a “one answer fits all challenges” solution set, but rather as a practical vehicle for informing time-constrained professionals operating at the tactical and operational levels.

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