Brian W Kelly

Serial Fulfillment of Basic Needs: A Practical Application to Guide Decision Analysis in Non-Kinetic Operations Brian W Kelly

Publisher Marketing: Parallel operations have been the dominate focus of air power in recent military operations but sequential or serial operations must be given further consideration in today's challenging environment. Military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have proven that operational planning must also consider the resolution of conflict through stability operations from which civil authority may be enabled. The underlying factors which contribute to instability are directly related to the fulfillment of basic physiological and safety needs. Consequently, Abraham Maslow theorized that human behavior is influenced through the serial fulfillment of human needs. This hierarchical structure of human needs must serve as the outline by which stability operations focus effects to correctly influence human behavior. Furthermore, the manner by which an unstable country or region transitions to a stable environment and thus possesses the attributes of a functioning society occurs in a sequential progression. Thus, the focus of military operations must examine the benefit of creating effects which address the fulfillment of basic needs in a sequential or serial fashion. OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM-PHILIPPINES offers a unique example of how the application of serial effects contributed to realization of operational objectives. However, current Effects Based Approach Operations (EBAO) methodology presents a confusing and disjointed collection of terms to adequately clarify how commanders should conduct Decision Analysis. Therefore, a common taxonomy of effects must be presented to enable the joint warfighter to correctly identify the method by which to employ EBAO. A clearly presented taxonomy coupled with a thorough understanding of human behavior will permit commanders to correctly employ EBAO in stability operations.