scope:

INTRODUCTION

The 21st Century strategic environment involves a myriad of ethnic, religious, ideological and capability drivers, which require sustainable solutions in societies ravaged by conflicts, disasters or humanitarian catastrophes. Solutions to these serious events are impossible to achieve by military means alone.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) contribution to a comprehensive approach, as one of its military facilitators, is a link to the civil environment, with civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) as one of the military facilitators. This enables the military to help reaching the desired end state by coordinating, synchronizing and de-conflicting military activities with civil actors, thus linking military operations with political objectives. The influence of the vast variety of civil contributions to stabilise a dysfunctional society must continue to be considered by the military. This will enable the smooth transition from offensive/defensive operations to security/stability operations, thus reaching a status of development where Alliance forces can leave a secure area behind much sooner.

CIMIC as a military function that is an integral part of modern multidimensional operations, addresses all cooperating parties within a conflict situation and facilitates mutual support of civilian capabilities to military forces and vice versa. The governing idea in all those interactions is reaching the defined and commonly desired end state, for the best of the local population, the civil actors and the Alliance, which will be, under the best of circumstances, hard to achieve.

In order to maximize success for all parties it is crucial that all sides fully understand how each partner plans and operates. On one hand, military personnel at the tactical level will carry out CIMIC tasks, as generically described in AJP-3.4.9 and specified in tactical publications, directly contributing to the military effort as 'boots on the ground'. On the other hand CIMIC tasks will be carried out by personnel not directly linked to CIMIC staff functions. The planning of military action demands CIMIC input, as does all other military work within and outside of the mission area. The multiple dimensions of modern military operations are all influenced by CIMIC, as their focus is on the civil environment. Not everything in the military is CIMIC, but CIMIC can play a key role within NATO's contribution to a comprehensive approach. CIMIC's contribution and influence has to be visibly present at all the levels of responsibility of the Alliance, while this doctrine is focusing on the operational level.