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Building Strategic Lethality: Special Operations Models for Joint Force Learning and Leader Development
No full textThis article examines how U.S. Joint Special Operations Forces (SOF), particularly through SAG-U and CJSOTF-10, have rapidly adapted to support Ukraine amid Russia’s full-scale invasion, offering a model for future joint force innovation. SAG-U emerged as a key logistics and coordination hub, integrating NATO and interagency partners to manage complex, high-stakes supply chains. Meanwhile, CJSOTF-10 and its subordinate SOTF-10.1 shifted from traditional training and advising roles to rapid tactical adaptation, virtual assistance, and technological integration to meet evolving battlefield demands. The creation of the Remote Advise and Assist Cell (RAAC) illustrates how remote support and real-time data can bridge operational gaps, while experimentation and concept development efforts, through exercises and war games, demonstrate how joint SOF can drive broader force modernization. Ultimately, the article argues that adaptability, partner-centric networks, and continual experimentation are essential to sustaining strategic advantage in complex security environments
Intelligence Reform at 20: How Joint Military Intelligence Lost Its Groove and How to Get It Back
No full textThis article critically examines the 20-year evolution of joint military intelligence in the wake of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA), arguing that an overemphasis on Intelligence Community (IC) tradecraft, particularly ICD 203, has eroded support to joint warfighters. While analytic rigor and integrity have improved, training and standards have diverged from joint doctrine, especially the principles in Joint Publication (JP) 2-0 and the Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE). The authors identify structural gaps in defense intelligence training, such as the neglect of Priority Intelligence Requirements (PIRs), enemy course of action (ECOA) development, and operational assessments. They recommend realigning analytic education and performance standards with joint operational needs, re-baselining training objectives to Universal Joint Task List (UJTL) standards, and fostering cross-functional collaboration through dual tradecraft guidance. The article calls for immediate reform to reorient defense intelligence toward its core mission, effective and relevant support to the joint force
China\u27s Cockpit Advances Pose Challenges for U.S. Combat Pilots
No full textThis article by Dr. James Giordano, Director of the INSS Center for Disruptive Technology and Future Warfare, explores the evolving landscape of military aviation as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes air combat dynamics. It examines the integration of AI-assisted and autonomous systems designed to augment aviator performance beyond current human limitations. The discussion highlights the potential of wearable brain–computer interfaces to reduce cognitive load by enabling direct neural collaboration with onboard AI systems. Additionally, it considers how offloading high-G maneuvers to unmanned platforms could enhance human adaptability and preserve strategic decision-making roles for aviators. The paper also addresses the operational and ethical challenges of increased AI reliance, including the implications for training, maintenance, and human autonomy. Ultimately, the article envisions a future in which aviators function as integral components within hybrid human–machine systems, maintaining competitiveness in an era of rapidly advancing AI adversaries
Determining Political Objectives
No full textPolitical objectives are the backbone of national and coalition security strategies, shaping the direction and outcomes of conflicts. Defined by political leaders with input from military advisors, these objectives must strike a balance between goals, resources, and methods to be achievable. However, the process is often complicated by competing priorities, biases, and the need to adapt to changing conditions. History has shown the dangers of mismatched resources, flawed intelligence, and unrealistic ambitions, as seen in conflicts like the Russo-Japanese War, Gulf War, and the Russia-Ukraine war. Clear and well-defined objectives—whether focused on defense, conquest, or diplomacy—are essential for success. Achieving these goals often requires combining military power with tools like diplomacy, economics, and information campaigns. While it’s rare, some objectives can even be reached without conflict. Ultimately, setting and achieving political objectives demands sound judgment, flexibility, and a deep understanding of both strategic realities and the adversary’s mindset
The Art of Campaigning: Joint Planners Working at the Intersections of Everything
No full textThis article examines the evolution of military campaigning from traditional large-scale combat operations to ongoing efforts that shape the global environment and achieve long-term strategic goals. It highlights the role of Combatant Command Campaign Plans (CCPs) in aligning national strategies with operational objectives and addressing modern challenges like cyber, cognitive, and information warfare.
Key topics include the importance of a Combatant Commander’s (CCDR) vision, the integration of global and regional plans, and the use of strategic wargaming to refine approaches. The article also addresses challenges such as delays in guidance, fragmented planning structures, and adapting to dynamic environments.
Finally, it emphasizes the role of educational institutions like the Joint and Combined Warfighting School (JCWS) in preparing planners while stressing the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and joint efforts to maintain U.S. strategic advantage and national security
Keeping Turkey in the fold
No full textThis policy brief, published by CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies), examines Turkey’s role as a pivotal middle power navigating a fragmenting global order, balancing NATO and EU ties while engaging Russia, China, and emerging economies. It outlines how the U.S. and EU can reinforce cooperation through economic integration, energy and defense initiatives, and confidence-building diplomacy. This brief was co-authored by INSS Distinguished Research Fellow Jeffrey Mankoff and Mühdan Sağlam
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Geopolitics in the South Caucasus
No full textMax Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya at CSIS host the podcast show, Russian Roulette. In this episode, they are joined by Richard Giragosian and Jeffrey Mankoff, Distinguished Research Fellow in the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) Center for Strategy and Military Power. They talk about the current geopolitical moment in the South Caucasus, with a particular focus on the dynamics at play in the relationships between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia.https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/podcasts/1011/thumbnail.jp
The German Defense-Industrial Zeitenwende: Implications for Transatlantic Security
No full textThe Zeitenwende, or “watershed moment”—announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in February 2022, days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—outlined a set of policy shifts, including the development of Germany’s first-ever National Security Strategy, that appeared to signal a greater role for Germany in the defense and security of Europe. The German National Security Strategy draws a clear connection between the need for a robust defense-industrial base and the foundation for the capabilities needed to meet North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defense and deterrence commitments, support Ukraine, and provide for the recapitalization of allies and partners. To date, however, there has been less focus on the extent to which the Zeitenwende galvanized change in Germany’s important defense-industrial base. This study assesses the extent to which the strategic shift signaled by the Zeitenwende is reflected and being implemented in Germany’s defense-industrial base policy and the implications for transatlantic security.https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/inss-strategic-perspectives/1043/thumbnail.jp
Preparing for Adversary Employment of Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons: Tactical Effects, Operational Impacts, Strategic Implications
No full textFor over 30 years after the Cold War, the U.S. largely dismissed the threat of tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield. However, recent nuclear threats from adversaries like Russia have highlighted the need to revisit U.S. strategies. Tactical nuclear weapons differ from strategic ones by their delivery systems, not their destructive power. On the battlefield, they could cause casualties, disrupt missions, and overwhelm medical resources. Operationally, they could create logistical challenges, civilian panic, and delays in military responses. Strategically, even a limited nuclear strike could escalate quickly, requiring leaders to carefully balance deterrence, messaging, and responses to avoid all-out nuclear war. This article calls for the U.S. to rethink its approach to tactical nuclear weapons, emphasizing the need for updated policies, rehearsed responses, and a clear understanding of their tactical, operational, and strategic impacts. Preparing now, rather than reacting to a crisis, is critical to avoiding catastrophic miscalculations in future conflicts
Solving the Crisis: A Partnership Approach for Safe, Affordable Military Housing
No full textThis article examines the critical housing shortage at Cannon Air Force Base (CAFB) and proposes a collaborative, community-driven approach to solving the crisis. It highlights the structural issues behind the shortage—ranging from military retention challenges to nationwide housing market pressures—and details the strategic formation of the “House Hunters” team to develop innovative, interim solutions. The authors advocate for leveraging intergovernmental partnerships and public-private initiatives, such as apartment leases and university collaborations, to address dormitory deficits ahead of delayed military construction. The article calls for bold policy changes and agile financing strategies to ensure safe, affordable housing for military personnel in rapidly evolving environments