Move 2: Assessment and Mission Planning

Description

Children scramble for refreshments in the city.

Given a mandate, syndicates developed a detailed coordinated strategic mission plan for the conduct of a UN mandated operation to integrate political, civilian, humanitarian and military activities. During game play, they acted as the Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG), Head of Mission/Headquarters Staff and Force Commander, and considered operßational problems regarding coordination and action between the political, civilian, humanitarian and military activities in developing the plan. Specific tasks were conducting a mission analysis, and estimating and pro-ducing an integrated diplomatic/civil/human-itarian/military mission plan for the operation in Darlan. Maps depicting the tactical situation, including the location of refugees, were provided, as were detailed facts about contributing countries, force composition, and so on.

The pre-written mandate included in the game book was used as the point of departure. Just as in actual events, information was neither completely accurate nor was it comprehensive. Therefore, participants were asked to make decisions and recommendations under conditions of uncertainty. Consequently, it was beneficial for the syndicates to make reasonably credible and articulated assumptions.

Findings

The syndicates followed similar approaches to the first half of Move 2 by developing a mission, determining centers of gravity and keys to success, and outlining the concept of operations contain-ing the phases and tasks leading to the successful completion of the mission. Some articulated assumptions included:

• The parties were committed to peace

• The compliance of the parties was generally voluntary

• Legal structures pre-existed

• Force level was sufficient for a Chapter VII operation

Components of the mission statement were drawn directly from the resolution and strategic guidance contained in the Secretary General’s Directive to the Special Representative that were provided in the handout materials. Mission statements across the four syndicates varied in detail, but contained the essential elements of:

• Stabilizing areas of tension

• Alleviating suffering

• Facilitating return of refugees and IDPs

• Demobilizing factions

• Developing of a civilian police force

• Establishing an environment for free and elections to take place

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