by U. S. Army U.S. Army Command and Staff College, United States United States Army
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The US military uses construction as a means to build relationships with multi-national partners. United States-led coalitions execute massive construction projects that enable strategy, extend influence, shape operations, and facilitate tactical actions. Infrastructure development builds host nation capacity, meet political objectives, and enable military operations. Infrastructure provides access, basing, and lines of communication, essential factors in planning operations. Construction supports operational design by enabling the movement and maneuver of forces in a theater of operations. Contingency construction, military engineering, and contracted construction play a vital role in warfare by enabling the commander to execute the desired course of action by shaping the physical environment and setting conditions. This monograph uses a case study analysis focusing on the influence of construction in large-scale ground combat operations on creating coalitions, building partners, and military operations. The case studies are the construction of the Ledo Road in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater of World War II and the construction efforts during Operation Desert Shield of the 1990-1991 Gulf Conflict. Each case study discusses the theater strategy, construction challenges, and operational level impacts. Built into the discussion is how construction addresses challenges of geography and helps create a cooperative environment leading to coalition building. As the US Army transitions to large-scale ground combat operations, by comparing the case studies and considering the future, this monograph explores the role of construction and coalitions in enabling operational art. (Porter, Kenneth M.). The School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) is one of the parts of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC). Most SAMS students complete the regular CGSC course, then stay for a second academic year. They write either one or two monographs (depending on the requirement at the time) and are awarded a Master of Military Art and Science (MMAS) graduate degree. Most go on to planning jobs in field units. This collection contains all the publicly releasable monographs produced since the program began in 1986. SAMS monographs typically address historical events, current operational issues, or new organizational concepts.