This monograph examines the interagency interoperability challenges faced by joint force commanders and planners during international humanitarian assistance operations (HAO). Three patterns or currents flow through the study. These currents include the commander's environmental awareness of his area of operations, organizational design, and development of interoperability enhancing procedures. By examining current doctrine and HAO case studies through the prism of these currents, one readily sees the crucial decisions and dilemmas facing joint force commanders and their staffs. The monograph first introduces the major participants in humanitarian assistance operations. These participants fall primarily into three groups: non-governmental organizations, government agencies, and the military organizations. Next, a historical perspective of interagency interoperability during international (HACs) provides examples of interagency coordination and confrontation beginning with the Vietnam War to present day operations. A doctrinal basis is formed in the next section by examining the three current in relation to joint and U.S. Army doctrine. The next section consists of Case studies of Operations PROVIDE COMFORT and SUPPORT HOPE. The final two sections offer emerging techniques and procedures and conclusions. The monograph's principal conclusions revolve around the joint force commander's initial assessment. This operational and environmental assessment will often dictate the joint force organizational design. That is why the joint forces commander must use all available resources, both military and civilian, to gain a true picture of the crisis. From this picture, an organization is formed that must reflect the operational environment, its participants and the requirements that will be placed on the organization. Finally, organizational design is not the end of its self. Joint force commanders and staffs must dictate the procedures, such as standard operating procedures, liaison requirements, and the use of standard communications equipment to promote unity of effort and legitimacy through interagency interoperability.

ADA 314688 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.)