Building Partner Capacity/Security Force Assistance: A New Structural Paradigm

: On July 16, 2008 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice launched the Civil Response Corps (CRC), which would function much like our military reserve. It would ease the burden on the Armed Forces by allowing the hiring of civilians with critical skills to serve on missions abroad when America needs them. The CRC is a product of the efforts of the State Department's Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS). The core mission of S/CRS is to lead, coordinate, and institutionalize U.S. Government civilian capacity to prevent or prepare for post-conflict situations, and to help stabilize and reconstruct societies in transition from conflict or civil strife, so they can reach a sustainable path toward peace, good governance, and a market economy. This paper examines the current Building Partner Capacity and Security Force Assistance capabilities and capacities within the U.S. Army and how they relate and complement the efforts of the CRC. The current operational environment calls for us to look at history, policy, doctrine, and other academic proposals to identify capability and capacity gaps. As the General Purpose Force looks forward to expanding roles in Irregular Warfare, Foreign Internal Defense, and Security Assistance, does the U.S. Army have the proper force structure and minimal capability to fight and win the counterinsurgency of the future? This paper analyzes this construct and provides a framework for identifying proponency, institutionalizing lessons learned from Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, as well as providing military, police, and governance structure as a tool for global engagement. This new structural paradigm complements S/CRS's efforts to provide the United States with the ability to access, influence, and build capacity throughout this new world order.