COL Philip Volpe Summer, 1999
Uniformed Family Physicians should have
a solid understanding of the type of operation they are deploying
on and supporting if they are to be successful. Knowing the mission
and tasks to be undertaken have significant implications on training,
readiness, planning, resourcing and establishing your scope of
practice during deployments. Although war operations are straightforward
and doctrinal, the operations-other-than-war can be confusing
because of the many varieties and common misuse of the terminology.
Current trends in the applications of the uniformed services clearly
show our growing involvement in numerous peace operations. Understanding
the terminology allows one to predict threats; foresee the magnitude
and scope of the medical mission; and anticipate what will be
required of you-so you can prepare for your success. The following
definitions pertaining to peace operations are intended to assist
you in understanding the missions and implied medical requirements
as well as to help you sort through some of the confusion inherent
to the current terminology (taken from Joint Pub No. 1-02, 339,
303 and FM 100-23-1, 1-2, 1-3).
Peace Operations A broad term that encompasses peacekeeping operations and peace enforcement operations conducted in support of diplomatic efforts to establish and maintain peace.
Peacekeeping Operations Military operations undertaken with the consent of all major parties to a dispute, designed to monitor and facilitate implementation of an agreement (ceasefire, truce or other agreement) and support diplomatic efforts to reach a long-term political settlement.
Peace Enforcement Operations Application of military force, or the threat of its use, normally pursuant to international authorization, to compel compliance with resolutions or sanctions designed to maintain or restore peace and order.
Peace Building Post-conflict actions, predominantly diplomatic and economic, that strengthen and rebuild governmental infrastructure and institutions in order to avoid a relapse into conflict.
Peacemaking The process of diplomacy, mediation, negotiation or other forms of peaceful settlements that arrange an end to a dispute and resolves the issues that led to it.
Nation Assistance Civil and/or military assistance rendered to a nation by foreign forces within that nation's territory during peacetime, crisis or emergencies, or war based on agreements mutually concluded between nations and includes:
Security Assistance Foreign Internal Defense Other USC 10 (DOD) Programs.
Humanitarian Assistance Operation Military operations providing a secure environment to allow humanitarian relief efforts to progress and includes:
Disaster Relief Refugee Assistance Humanitarian and Civic Assistance and Civil Support.
Disaster Relief Actions to mitigate the results of natural or manmade disasters such as: Earthquakes, floods, oil spills, famine, civil conflicts. Military tasks include: Construction of basic sanitation facilities, repair of public facilities, construction of shelters, provision of food and medical care, immediate response to relieve suffering, prevent loss of life, and protect property.
Refugee Assistance Programs designed to support the resettlement of refugees and displaced persons.
Refugee: civilians who, by real or imagined danger, have left home to seek safety across an international border. Displaced Civilians: civilians who are involuntarily outside the natural boundaries of their community or country.y The United Nations coordinates programs.y Programs include: administration of camps, care, (food, supplies, medical care, protection), placement (relocation to other countries, camps or locations).
Humanitarian And Civic Assistance A component of nation assistance program under purview of the foreign internal defense and development concept; military activities include medical, dental and veterinary care and some local infrastructure construction and repair.
Civil Support
Actions to assist local governments in domestic support areas
such as repairs to infrastructures and actions that enable the
existing government to govern; not a direct responsibility of
humanitarian assistance operations; not classified as military
in nature.