NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
CJOA-A COIN MISSION ESSENTIAL TASK: Understand the Operational
Environment
(Master the Basics, Understand the Operational Environment, Know the Enablers,
Language Training, Know the Civilian component to our Civil/Military Team, Train
decentralized operations to the lowest level)
DESCRIPTION: Units must understand the operational environment in order to
identify root causes of instability and grievances that give the insurgency traction in their
specific local area of operations.
CONDITION: A Unit is assigned an Afghan District as its operational area. The unit is
partnered with one or more ANSF elements. A district governor is present; however the
effectiveness of the district government has not been determined.
TASKS AND STANDARDS:
1.
Task Title: Develop an understanding of a district area
Task Description: Units need to know specifics about the district in which they will
operate. Every area will have its own characteristics, and the unit should know the area
as well or better than one’s own hometown. Specifically the unit will develop a detailed
local picture to include religious customs, local nuances and leaders ; tribes and tribal
elders; power brokers and who controls the economy; local culture customs; terrain,
water and weather; local language dialects; an historical perspective; literacy by age
demographics; gender norms; any limits to opportunity; motivations and needs by
generation; presence of anti-social behavior such as crime and drugs; and any local
representation of a wider insurgency. Additionally the unit should investigate what other
non-local groups are operating in the area such as missionaries or NGOs
Measures:
Measures: Scale:
Description:
M1
Yes/No
Unit develops an ASCOPE-PMESII
M4
Yes/No
Unit has identified threats to civil security
M5
Yes/No
Unit has identified vulnerabilities to civil security
M6
Yes/No
Unit has assessed security situation
M7
Yes/No
Unit has an understanding of Friendly forces (ANP, ANA, ABP, NDS)
M8
Yes/No
Unit has an understanding of Enemy (INS)
M9
Yes/No
Unit has an understanding of Population
M10
Yes/No
Unit has an understanding of Local powerbrokers, criminal networks
M11
Yes/No
Unit has identified historical local conflicts.
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
M13
Yes/No
M14
Yes/No
M15
Yes/No
M16
Yes/No
M17
Yes/No
Unit understands the Freedom of Movement in the District
pertaining to Lines of Communications
Unit understands the Freedom of Movement in the District
pertaining to the Import of economic goods
Unit understands the Freedom of Movement in the District
pertaining to Export of economic goods
Unit understands the Freedom of Movement in the District
pertaining to Governance
Unit understands the Freedom of Movement in the District
pertaining to the Population within the district
2. Task Title: Civil Control
Task Description: The unit needs to understand what resources are available to assist in
civil control. Identify any formal local security forces, and informal groups such as local
groups, tribes, militias, or local volunteer security groups. Examine and assess the layout
of buildings, roads, constricted areas and choke points. Develop a plan for potential
isolation of sections, checkpoints, patrolling routes, and major transporation route
roadblocks. Be prepared to initiate measures to reinstitute and maintain civil control.
Measures:
Measures: Scale:
Description:
M1
Yes/No
Unit identifies the process for dispute resolution within a village, village
cluster, and District
M2
Yes/No
Unit identifies any Shadow Government influence on dispute resolution
within a village, village cluster, and District
M3
Yes/No
Identify shortcomings in local dispute resolution process that are being
exploited by Shadow Government dispute resolution process
M4
Yes/No
M5
Yes/No
Unit identifies formal, GIRoA, and informal, tribal and cultural influence
on dispute resolution within a village, village cluster, to include and
District to include Mullahs, Maliks, Mirabs, and key elders,
Unit identifies secure locations to facilitate Rule of Law
M6
Yes/No
Unit identifies any possible inter-tribal peace agreements on nonviolence
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
M7
Yes/No
Unit identifies local traditional tribal security forces, i.e. arbakai and
lashghar and their boundaries
M8
Yes/No
Unit understands non-lethal crowd control techniques place holder.
M9
Yes/No
Unit identifies the process for dispute resolution within a village, village
cluster, and District
M10
Yes/No
Unit identifies any Shadow Government influence on dispute resolution
within a village, village cluster, and District
M11
Yes/No
Identify shortcomings in local dispute resolution process that are being
exploited by Shadow Government dispute resolution process
M12
Yes/No
M13
Yes/No
Unit identifies formal, GIRoA, and informal, tribal and cultural influence
on dispute resolution within a village, village cluster, to include and
District to include Mullahs, Maliks, Mirabs, and key elders,
Unit identifies secure locations to facilitate Rule of Law
M14
Yes/No
Unit identifies any possible inter-tribal peace agreements on nonviolence
M15
Yes/No
Unit identifies local traditional tribal security forces, i.e. arbakai and
lashghar and their boundaries
M16
Yes/No
Unit understands non-lethal crowd control techniques place holder.
3. Task Title: Governance
Task Description: Every area has its own formal or informal form of local government.
This must be completely understood in terms of how rules are established and amended,
how rules are enforced, how local grievances or adjudicated, how economic fairness is
maintained, and how those will disobey are treated. The next governance item the unit
needs to asses is the formal structure and interaction with higher levels of government.
The unit should understand how involved a higher level of government is and how it
manages legitimacy. How are local taxes, tolls, and needs assed and collected as well as
how are taxes collected by the higher government? What services are provided by local
and higher levels of government? This task should focus on the processes and defined
agreements rather than on personalities.
Measures:
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
Measures: Scale:
Description:
M1
Yes/No
Unit understands the tribal dispositions (mantaqa) within the district
M2
Yes/No
Unit identifies tribal boundaries that straddle adjacent district borders
M3
Yes/No
Unit understands tribal compositions in each village
M4
Yes/No
Unit understands existing system of government mechanics
M5
Yes/No
Unit understands the District Center Tashkil (authorized manning
document)
M6
Yes/No
Unit understands responsibilities of the line ministers at the district level
M7
Yes/No
Unit understands the District Delivery Program (DDP)move to stability task
M8
Yes/No
Unit understands Afghan Government funding streams and pay issues
M9
Yes/No
Unit identifies Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and International
Government Organizations (IGO) working in the district
M10
Yes/No
Unit identifies missions of NGOs/IGOs
M11
Yes/No
Unit identifies capabilities of NGOs/IGOs
4. Task Title: Afghan National Security Force
Task Description: In the unit’s assigned area there is probably a national security force
or national police unit which owns the local area. The unit should know in detail which
units are assigned to operate in the area, and if any ANSF units are physically located in
our unit’s area. The unit should understand the command and control, the readiness, the
composition, the personalities, training readiness, the logistical efficiency and the
rotational basis of the ANSF unit.
Measures:
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
5.
Measures: Scale:
Description:
M1
Yes/No
M2
Yes/No
M3
Yes/No
Unit identifies the composition of the ANSF units in the district (ANA, ANP,
ABP, ANCOP, APPF, VSP)
Unit identifies the disposition of the ANSF units in the district (ANA, ANP, ABP,
ANCOP, APPF, VSP)
Unit identifies Tashkil of ANSF units (ANA, ANP, ABP, ANCOP, APPF, VSP)
M4
Yes/No
Unit identifies the level of training of the ANSF elements
M5
Yes/No
Unit understands differences in the Rules of Engagement for each ANSF
element (ANA, ANP, ABP, ANCOP, APPF, VSP)
Task Title: Essential Services
Task Description: The definition and composition of essential services varies as well
as the responsibility of who supplies these essential services. In some parts of
America essential services may be viewed as potable water, sewage treatment, power,
trash collection, phone service, and public roads. Other areas of America include
internet access, media outlets, public education, healthcare, and light rail
transportation. In Afghanistan the description of what are essential services will be
different. Generally all people need water access, and a process to treat sewage and
collect trash. Electricity and phone, or cell, service are important enough in a modern
society that they should also be included. The unit needs to assess these basic
services and discern how these are provided and by whom. Availability of healthcare
and vetinary services is important for the local people and the unit should asses these.
Other services which may not be essential should be noted such as schools (primary,
secondary, religious, trade and technical), newspapers, radio stations, and internet
access.
Measures:
Measures: Scale:
Description:
M1
Yes/No
Unit understands what services are applicable to the district
M2
Yes/No
Unit identifies electricity production methods
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
M3
Yes/No
Unit identifies sewage disposal techniques
M4
Yes/No
Unit identifies academic/education infrastructure and activities
M5
Yes/No
Unit identifies water management methods
M6
Yes/No
Unit identifies district water managers
M7
Yes/No
Unit identifies trash collection procedures
M8
Yes/No
Unit identifies trash disposal locations
M9
Yes/No
Unit identifies location of medical facilities
M10
Yes/No
Unit understands medical capabilities
M11
Yes/No
Unit understands the emergency response system
M12
Yes/No
Unit understands local transportation services
M13
Yes/No
Unit understands fire response capabilities
M14
Yes/No
Unit identifies veterinarian capability
M15
Yes/No
Unit prioritizes above services
M16
Yes/No
Unit identifies services available
M17
Yes/No
Unit identifies services denied
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
M18
Yes/No
Unit identifies services never available
6. Task Title: Economic Development
Task Description: Every local area has its own economy and economic drivers. The
unit needs to understand what drives the local economy and who controls the money.
The unit’s presence will change the economy and the second and third order effects
are essential to understand. The percent of the population working in agriculture,
trade, light factories, and not working is important. What crops are grown, what is
growing season, where crops are sold, the existence of markets, transportation
viability, the availability of water and fertilizer needs to be understood. The same
detail is needed for any local products made or produced. The skills, education and
technical ability of the population help understand potential of the work force. A
thorough baseline study helps in deciding on what is needed or feasible with any
economic assistance and development plan. Additionally, any illegal economic
endeavors need to be addressed such as drugs, trafficking in persons, smuggling and
weapons trade.
Measures:
Measures: Scale:
Description:
M1
Yes/No
Unit understands the agricultural capacity
M2
Yes/No
Unit understands the agricultural capability
M3
Yes/No
Unit identifies any illicit economic activity
M4
Yes/No
Unit reports any illicit economy activity
M5
Yes/No
M6
Yes/No
Unit identifies the bazaar Malik (individual in-charge of the bazaar. Not in
all locations)
Unit catalogues businesses and practices
M7
Yes/No
Unit understands District Economy and Infrastructure
M8
Yes/No
Unit identifies land size holdings (“Economic Powerbrokers”)
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA
M9
Yes/No
Unit identifies the Mirab (village water manager)
M10
Yes/No
Unit identifies credit and payment methods
M11
Yes/No
Unit identifies the access to irrigated water
M12
Yes/No
M13
Yes/No
M14
Yes/No
Unit provides support to the Community Development Councils (CDC) at
the village and village cluster level Move to stability task
Unit provides support to the District Development Assembly (DDA) Move
to stability task
Unit identifies the local economic development network and enablers
M15
Yes/No
Unit understands property rights norms
NATO/ISAF UNCLASSIFIED REL GIRoA