Description
America’s 1997 “National Security Strategy” contends, “the future is uncertain.” “Uncertainty” includes applying technology to military peace operations. Learning from peace operations today supports planning the peace operations of tomorrow. This thesis strives to capture the application of JSTARS’ technology in support of Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR (OJE). OJE is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) peace enforcement mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The NATO led Implementation Force (IFOR), reinforced with non-NATO allies, deployed into a dangerous Bosnian security environment in December 1995. After four years of combat, the former warring factions (FWF), of three “ethnic nations” posed a significant threat to IFOR. Force protection requirements justified deploying JSTARS. The thesis therefore addresses the application of JSTARS technology to IFOR’s mission requirements. Researching available data discovered mission degradation caused by uncoordinated mission planning, international airspace constraints, and lack of formal coordination at the international level. Deploying in contravention to stated doctrine likewise impeded mission execution. Additionally, thesis research discovered executive level interest influencing the deployment decision. The primary mission remained however to support IFOR. OJE is an excellent template for future peace operations. Studying JSTARS’ OJE performance conveys the complexities associated with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in joint and combined military operations.
