Edward Kertis

The Reconstruction Weapon: Changing the Department of Defense Paradigm on Nationbuilding Edward Kertis

Defeating insurgents involves winning the hearts and minds of a population. Improving infrastructure is an effective method of gaining popular support, as it is human nature to want to improve ones lot in life. Scarce US defense resources would best be spent on reconstruction operations as opposed to expensive weapons programs. US Government agencies are currently incapable of accomplishing the reconstruction mission, therefore the Department of Defense should be the lead agency in stability, security, transition, and reconstruction (SSTR) operations. The Department should: transform the focus of the Quadrennial Defense Review; designate an Army major command as lead for SSTR operations; return civil affairs units to the regular Army; transform the Air Force to better match its SSTR missions; and formalize provincial reconstruction teams as regular units in all services.