Rethinking military diplomacy in achieving strategic ends

Abstract

This article argues that to be able to effectively transfer political guidance into tasks and effective missions on terrain, midlevel and junior officers along with noncommissioned officers, among others, during post-conflict operations must demonstrate diplomatic skills, as an essential tool for successful mission accomplishment. These skills should be considered not just in immediate pre-deployment training and preparations, but in the development of troupe leading procedures and eventually in the overall military education.

Keywords

• military diplomacy
• counterinsurgency
• operational planning
• cultural understanding
• strategic ends
• tactical operations