This monograph is an analysis of the Papua Campaign and Operation Cartwheel, using the lens of the joint concept of operational art. This monograph asserts that these two campaigns highlight enduring challenges of operational art in a high-intensity, multi-domain environment against a peer adversary capable of contesting and dominating multiple domains simultaneously. A detailed examination of these two successful, joint-multinational forcible entry campaigns will provide valuable insight for the US military as the joint force contends with multiple near-peer threats capable of conducting anti-access and area denial operations to contest or dominate the US military across multiple domains. An examination of the Papua Campaign and Operation Cartwheel reveals the critical elements of joint operational art that best enable joint-multinational forces to link tactical actions to the strategic objectives during the early Pacific campaigns in World War II.

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.)