#17 The Complexity of Diverse National ROE within Multinational Security Operations

#17 The Complexity of Diverse National ROE within Multinational Security Operations   – Dr Regeena Kingsley   In earlier blogs the vital concept of ‘unity of effort’ for effective multinational security campaigns was explored, in addition to the underlying structures of ‘unity of command’ and ‘cooperation, coordination and consensus’ (see blog “#7 The Fundamental Principle of “Unity of Effort” in Multinational Operations” and “#8 The “Unity of Effort Model” – Vital for Success in Multinational Operations”).   U.S. General of the Army (GA) Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander over more than one million allied forces in both the

Read More

#16 The Practical Value of National Rules of Engagement: An Assessment

#16 The Practical Value of National Rules of Engagement: An Assessment   – Dr Regeena Kingsley   In previous blogs, I have discussed what Rules of Engagement (ROE) are, what kinds of instructions they contain, how ROE are formed for military operations, and how they are enforced and breaches punished (see blogs “#9 What are “Rules of Engagement”? Military Mandates & Instructions for the Use of Force”, “#10 Rules of Engagement & National Caveats: “Self-Defence” & “Mission Accomplishment” Instructions”, “#11 How are Rules of Engagement Formed for Military Operations?”, and “#12 The Binding Power of Rules of Engagement: Enforcement &

Read More

#15 Highly Classified: National Caveats & Government Secrecy (Official & Unofficial Caveat ROE)

#15 Highly Classified: National Caveats & Government Secrecy   – Dr Regeena Kingsley   The last blog discussed how an alarming, new, global norm has developed within contemporary multinational security operations.  Since the early 1990s, nations have been increasingly imposing heavy and wide-ranging constraints on the forces they contribute to multinational security operations  (see blog “#14  An Alarming New Norm: National Caveat Constraints in Multinational Operations”).  The trend has become so strong in fact that today national caveats are considered to be ‘normal’ and the ‘common lot to varying degrees of all military operations conducted by NATO, the European Union

Read More

#14 An Alarming New Norm: National Caveat Constraints in Multinational Operations

#14 An Alarming New Norm: National Caveat Constraints in Multinational Operations   – Dr Regeena Kingsley   Routine imposition of national caveat constraints on national military contingents has developed as an increasingly common habit of nations today, whenever countries contribute forces to Multinational Operations (MNOs) authorised by the international community.  This practice has continued regardless of whether the international security missions concerned have been conducted under the banner and command of an international organisation, such as the United Nations (UN), or a treaty-based military Alliance structure, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).  Caveat constraints have also been habitually

Read More

#13 National Commanders: Caveat Mediators

#13 National Commanders: Caveat Mediators   – Dr Regeena Kingsley   In previous blogs it has been explained that Rules of Engagement (ROE) are instructions for the use of force by military forces, and that these instructions or rules relate to two specific issues – self-defence and mission accomplishment.   With regard to self-defence, when individuals, groups of individuals, or an armed force are declared Enemy, it is permissible for force to be used as a matter of course and offensive action to take place.  The Enemy force may be attacked, at the discretion and judgment of the military commander,

Read More

#12 The Binding Power of Rules of Engagement: Enforcement & Punishment

#12 The Binding Power of Rules of Engagement: Enforcement & Punishment   – Dr Regeena Kingsley   Rules of Engagement (ROE) are precise instructions relating to the use of lethal force by military personnel when deployed on military operations.  In blog “#10 Rules of Engagement & National Caveats: “Self-Defence” & “Mission Accomplishment” Instructions”, the two major categories of ROE instructions – self-defence and mission accomplishment instructions – were discussed in detail, with particular reference to the three types of authorisation, limitation and prohibition rules contained in the latter most influential category with regard to effective Multinational Operations (MNOs). Following this

Read More

#11 How are Rules of Engagement Formed for Military Operations?

#11 How are Rules of Engagement Formed for Military Operations?   – Dr Regeena Kingsley   Given the importance of the content of Rules of Engagement (ROE) for any military forces deployed on security or peace support operations (see blog “#10 Rules of Engagement & National Caveats: “Self-Defence” & “Mission Accomplishment” Instructions”), two questions immediately arise. How exactly are these ROE formulated? And who within the national government apparatus is responsible for drafting ROE for any Multinational Operation (MNO) during the pre-deployment phase?     ROE Formulation: Seven Steps There are seven steps that are typically involved in the ROE formulation

Read More

#10 Rules of Engagement & National Caveats: “Self-Defence” & “Mission Accomplishment” Instructions

#10 Rules of Engagement & National Caveats: “Self-Defence” & “Mission Accomplishment” Instructions   – Dr Regeena Kingsley   Rules of Engagement (ROE) contain specific instructions relating to the use of force.  Indeed, they are defined by NATO as: ‘Directives issued by competent military authority which specify the circumstances and limitations under which forces will initiate and/or continue combat engagement with other forces encountered’.[1]   ROE contain precise and classified prescriptions on exactly when (use of force) and how (degree of force) military armed forces may employ force against the Enemy while performing tasks towards stated mission objectives (see blog “#9 What

Read More

#9 What are “Rules of Engagement”? Military Mandates & Instructions for the Use of Force

#9 What are “Rules of Engagement”? Military Mandates & Instructions for the Use of Force    – Dr Regeena Kingsley    The imposition of restrictive rules on armed forces during wartime operations is not a new practice.  Indeed, evidence of their use has been traced back as far as the Middle Ages, enshrined in the royal ‘Letters of Marque and Reprisal’ commissions issued to medieval knights in the fourteenth century, and found within similar commissions and charters given to privateers plundering foreign trade ships in the Elizabethan era of the sixteenth century.[1]  The concept of Rules of Engagement (ROE) as

Read More

#8 The “Unity of Effort Model” & Multinational Commanders – Vital for Success in Multinational Operations

  #8 The “Unity of Effort Model” & Multinational Commanders  – Vital for Success in Multinational Operations   – Dr Regeena Kingsley   Unity of Effort: Vital for Success in MNOs Regardless of the means employed to achieve unity of effort within any Multinational Operation (MNO), the actual attainment of unity of effort is crucial for the effective and successful prosecution of multinational campaigns (see blog “#7 The Fundamental Principle of “Unity of Effort” in Multinational Operations”).  It is the prerequisite for success in all forms of multinational military operations without which ‘any organization’s work can negate the advances made by others’.[1] 

Read More