6

answer these questions, we examined: • Policy and doctrine for the use of military and civilian veterinarians in stability operations; Introduction and Methods 3 • Veterinary capabilities that reside within the Department of Defense (DoD) and other organizations, and activities that veterinarians have undertaken in Iraq and Afghanistan; and • The role of context in shaping appropriate activities and agency responsibilities, including interagency coordination. 4 Toward the Effective Use of Military Veterinarians in Stability Operations Our data collection methods included document review and interviews with key informants. We reviewed military policy and doctrine and civilian agency authorities. Most of the policy information herein derives from this document review. Acting on specific suggestions from the study sponsor (Army G3/5/7 office), we initially interviewed veterinary military leadership (the director and deputy director of the Veterinary Service Activity and commanders of the Veterinary Corps and Veterinary Command). We then recruited a convenience sample of interviewees with stability operations experience based on suggestions from these leaders and then, in “snowball” fashion, on suggestions from those subsequently interviewed. One team member conducted virtually all interviews either alone or jointly. We interviewed approximately 26 persons in person, by phone, or via email: Introduction and Methods 5 • Military veterinary leaders (4). • Military veterinarians working in Iraq and Afghanistan with Civil Affairs units, on Provincial Reconstruction Teams, or in conventional vet units, or who have deployed and returned from Iraq and Afghanistan (10). • Civilian veterinarians and agricultural specialists involved in the execution or planning of stability operations in Afghanistan and/or Iraq (5). • Civilian veterinarians or agricultural specialists in nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) (2). • Veterinarians or agricultural specialists working for universities in either Afghanistan or Iraq (3). • A specialist from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (1). • A Department of State officer (1). We used a standard set of questions for each group, with some tailoring based on the interviewee. We asked questions about the following topics: • Role—mission, authority, and resources—of interviewee and/or organization, as relates to veterinary activities in stability operations. • Their interactions with other organizations working in stability operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, especially interagency coordination in the field, and interactions with host nation counterparts. • Examples of such missions/activities, either their own personal experience (most interviewees) or as related by others (veterinary leadership). • Factors perceived as contributing to success and, conversely, to less successful veterinary stability operations activities. 6 Toward the Effective Use of Military Veterinarians in Stability Operations • Suggestions to improve the use of military veterinarians in stability operations. Our data analysis methods included: • Synthesis of DoD policy/doctrine, civilian agency authorities, and interview information from veterinarians involved in stability operations activities. • Assessment of potential gaps in military policy and doctrine. • Assessment of themes emerging from interviews, e.g., regarding what missions are important, key parameters for veterinarians and commanders to keep in mind about executing those missions, and how to interact within the interagency environment. Introduction and Methods 7 Chapter 2 of this documented briefing sets the context with a description—drawn from document review—of civilian and military policy regarding stability operations and then a description of the role of veterinarians in such operations.

1 2 3 4 5 6