Preparing for Future Armed Conflict: Embracing Irregular Warfare

For decades, the United States has focused its doctrine, acquisition, and training for conflict on maintaining deterrence or winning high-end conventional wars. However, this approach has failed to recognize and adapt to the irregular character of modern warfare. As Dr. Ezra Cohen, acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, emphasized, 'modern warfare is not nearly that clear-cut.'

Over the past 75 years, the US has been slow to acknowledge the complexities of conflicts it enters. In recent years, this has led to a lack of institutionalization of skills necessary to counter irregular threats from nations like Russia and China. To address this, the Department of Defense (DOD) has published the unclassified summary of the Irregular Warfare Annex, providing clear guidance and objectives for the Joint Force to adapt and apply its capabilities.

The annex highlights five core themes that are essential for countering near-peer adversaries' malign activities below the level of armed conflict. First and foremost, DOD must acknowledge and build upon the knowledge gained from 19 years of irregular conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. This expertise is crucial in shaping the competitive landscape to our advantage and challenging our adversaries' strategies.

Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is preparing for the challenges of irregular warfare, recognizing that this type of conflict may be a future threat posed by nations with advanced military capabilities. As Dr. Cohen stated, 'We must adapt and institutionalize those skills in ways that challenge our adversaries' strategies and shape the competitive landscape to our advantage.'

The publication of the Irregular Warfare Annex is an important step towards preparing for future armed conflicts, which will likely be characterized by irregular warfare. By embracing this reality, the US military can better prepare itself to counter threats from nations like Russia and China, ensuring our national security in a rapidly changing world.

Prepare for future armed conflict