Fiedler, Helmut Military Assistance. Eine moderne Einsatzart zwischen Anspruch und Wirklichkeit

Iraq and Afghanistan, the two theatres of operation that have been attracting global attention for almost 20 years, are striking examples of the prevailing paradox - rapid, decisive military success on the battlefield versus sustainable stability in the respective region. "Military assistance", one of the three core tasks of special operations forces, is the order of the day in this context.

This special type of operation is characterised by a wide-ranging military package of measures, which becomes effective through training support (training), advisory function (advising) and/or jointly conducted operations (mentoring/partnering). In addition to the above-mentioned technical solution mechanisms, however, the unifying core of all types and measures of military assistance must never be overlooked: Helping people to help themselves.
Military assistance missions in particular, where direct interpersonal access is a daily challenge, require a comprehensive understanding of the living environment found on the ground. Are there solutions to avoid being exposed to "terra incognita" again in the next theatre of operations? First of all, a finger must be put into the apparently open wound of many current military operations: Before addressing the question of concrete mission implementation - more training, more equipment, more money and all this as quickly as possible - a profound understanding of the underlying causes of conflict and the normatively relevant lifeworld(s) of the soldiers to be supported should be generated in order to be able to tackle the "right things".