In all its modern wars the United States has fought as a member of a multinational coalition. Multinational operations are a key component of the National Security Strategy of the United States, which is built on the imperative of engagement. Although prepared to act alone, many of America's security objectives are best achieved - or can only be achieved through alliances and other formal security structures, or as the leader of an ad hoc coalition formed around a specific objective. Numerous friction points between member nations inherently complicate multinational operations. Technological asymmetry among the potential coalition partners creates additional friction points in an already complicated scenario. The rapid advances in information technologies and their application to tactical warfare further aggravate this situation. This monograph examines the research question, "Is the establishment of liaison teams a feasible solution to share information on the digital battlefield in multinational operations." The author determines that liaison teams represent only a part of a feasible solution to the problem. Technology transfers and training, supplemented by liaison teams, offers the optimal solution to a complicated problem.

ADA 382191 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)