Friendly Opposition

This research paper suggests a framework for improved decision analysis through the alternative perspective and critical analysis provided by commanders' red teams. It defines red team activity as it relates to the Joint Operations Planning Process (JOPP), discusses shortfalls in existing red team usage, and establishes a framework for integrating red team analysis throughout the planning process to improve decision analysis. It uses the 1945 British counteroffensive, led by Field Marshall William Slim, to illustrate how red team analysis at both the theater-strategic and operational levels of war support decision analysis. Serving as a semi-independent, but fully integrated, part of commander' planning staffs, the red team provides a measure of apperception, enabling critical analysis of operational plans unconstrained by a single cultural point of view or operational perspective. Through independent problem framing and strategy development from an adversary's perspective, the red team can improve decision analysis to help commanders mitigate risk and better exploit emergent opportunities. While red team usage above the tactical level of war has been hindered by a variety of factors, the value of enabling alternative analysis by recognizing red teaming as a formal discipline promises to advance its effectiveness. The alignment of the JOPP with operational design, decision analysis and the friendly opposition afforded by robust red teaming, work in concert to advance a commander's ability to capably lead operational planning in an increasingly complex security environment. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.