Operations Other than War (OOTW)

Activities involving the use of the military but that do not necessarily involve armed clashes between two organized forces. Operations other than war (OOTW) include activities such as providing support for civilian authority, emergency evacuations of noncombatants from war zones, antidrug operations, and disaster and humanitarian assistance.

Despite its name, OOTW can also include military operations or the use of troops and military equipment to perform security and peacekeeping functions. These include activities such as combating terrorism, ensuring no-fly or no-go zones, protecting shipping and air lanes, making military shows of force, carrying out preemptive strikes and raids, and providing support to insurgents.

According to the government's Joint Doctrine for Military Operations Other Than War, the principles [Page 557]used in OOTW are simply an extension of the military's war-fighting doctrine. Military OOTW doctrine has six basic principles: (a) every operation should be directed at a clearly defined and attainable objective; (b) all efforts must be directed to a common purpose; (c) security is extremely important, that is, the enemy should never have a military, political, or intelligence advantage; (d) OOTW may require restraint in applying military power; (e) the force must persevere with its mission and stay focused on the long-term goal; and (f) operations must be seen as legitimate by the government and people of the country where they are taking place.

One of the main distinctions between combat operations and OOTW is that considerations other than military victory often are of primary importance in OOTW. The goal of combat is to defeat the enemy's forces as quickly as possible and conclude peace on the terms most favorable to one's own side. However, the goals of OOTW are not always as clear. These goals may include deterring potential enemies, supporting local authorities, and providing humanitarian assistance all at the same time. All of these objectives must be taken into consideration when planning OOTW.

Operation Restore Hope, the U.S. effort to provide famine relief to Somalia in the early 1990s, offers an example of the complex nature of many OOTW. At the time, Somalia was a country without a working central government that was ruled by a variety of armed warlords. The country's political chaos led to a breakdown in food production and distribution, resulting in a devastating famine that threatened the lives of millions of Somalis. Although many countries and international aid agencies sent food and relief supplies, most of these were seized by warlords before they could reach the general public.

The operation began on December 9, 1992, as U.S. Marines landed in Somalia and took control of major airports, seaports, and food distribution points in order to facilitate the delivery of relief supplies. The force of some 38,000 troops patrolled the area in and around the capital Mogadishu, safeguarding relief operations, escorting convoys, and searching for weapons. Troops also repaired more than 1,200 miles of roads, drilled wells to provide fresh water, rebuilt hospitals and schools, and treated thousands of Somalis for everything from bullet wounds to typhoid. Although the international effort to rebuild the central government failed, Operation Restore Hope saved countless lives and provided much-needed assistance to ordinary Somalis.

...