| ID | 131469 |
| Title Proper | Prospects of combined action |
| Other Title Information | lessons from Vietnam |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Gortzak, Yoav |
| Publication | 2014. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) |
Military commanders, policymakers, and analysts have recently embraced the concept of combined action as a powerful tool to improve the effectiveness of Afghan security forces in the fight against the Taliban. In doing so, they explicitly draw inspiration from the Combined Action Program employed by US Marines during the Vietnam War. This program is widely considered to have greatly improved the effectiveness of South Vietnamese government forces and contributed to increased population security in its area of operations and is considered a model worthy of emulation. This study finds that the success of the Vietnam-era Combined Action Program was more qualified than contemporary proponents argue. It argues that successes were tempered, and conditioned, by the choice of junior commanders, the level of operational control enjoyed by the US Marines, and the way the local forces were recruited and deployed. These conditions offer valuable lessons for those seeking to employ combined action not only in present-day Afghanistan, but also in future counterinsurgency campaigns. |
| `In' analytical Note | Small Wars and Insurgencies Vol.25, No.1; February 2014: p.137-160 |
| Key Words | Combined Action Program - CAP ; Corps Tactical Zone - CTZ ; Joint Action Companies ; Popular Forces Militia ; US Marine Corps ; Vietnam War ; Naval Warfare ; Southeast Asia ; Chinese Insurgencies ; Naval Operations ; Counterinsurgencies ; Insurgencies ; Afghan Security Forces ; Counter-Terrorism ; Contemporary Proponents |