ⓘ Definition: Operations Other Than War (OOTW) encompass the full range of military activities short of combat operations. JP 3-07 (2016) uses the term "stability operations" in US doctrine; OOTW/MOOTW remains the NATO/coalition standard. The spectrum ranges from arms control and humanitarian assistance through peacekeeping and counter-terrorism to strikes and raids.
Key Metrics
13
Op Categories
3
Decision Levels
16
Sim Scenarios
CIP/PKO
Confirmed OOTW
OOTW Spectrum
STABLE PEACE
Arms Control FHA / HADR Counter-Drug Nation Assist
Peace Enforce+ Support Insurgency Major Strikes ↓ WAR
Decision Levels
⚔ TACTICAL
Squad to Brigade. Direct execution, ROE application, checkpoint management, force protection, first-responder CIP/HADR actions, local authority interaction.
🗺 OPERATIONAL
Brigade to JTF. Campaign design, inter-agency and NGO coordination, logistics and enablers, resource prioritization across the AOR, phasing.
✓ CIP/CIR Confirmed OOTW: Critical Infrastructure Protection (PPD-21 Feb 2013, NIPP 2013) and Critical Infrastructure Restoration (JP 3-34, FM 3-07 Stability Task 4) are embedded across multiple OOTW categories. Peacekeeping (JP 3-07.3, UN Capstone 2008, AJP-3.4.1) is a confirmed OOTW area with its own Chapter VI/VII/VIII taxonomy.
OOTW OPERATION TYPES
Select any card for doctrine, legal authority, operation phases, and key considerations
Operation Detail
🔒
Arms Control
Treaty verification, inspection support, WMD demilitarization and compliance monitoring.
JP 3-07LOW RISK
🎯
Combating Terrorism
CT, CVE, HVT operations, hostage rescue, anti-terrorism force protection measures.
Natural disaster response, mass casualty support, epidemic containment, CIR operations.
JP 3-29LOW RISK
PEACE OPERATIONS
UN Chapter VI · Chapter VII · Chapter VIII · JP 3-07.3 · AJP-3.4.1 · UN Capstone Doctrine 2008 · Kigali Principles 2015
ⓘ Peace Operations are a confirmed OOTW category (JP 3-07.3, AJP-3.4.1). They encompass five activities: Conflict Prevention, Peacemaking, Peacekeeping, Peace Enforcement, and Peacebuilding (UN Capstone 2008). Three foundational principles govern all UN PKO: Consent, Impartiality, and Non-use of Force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.
Taxonomy by Charter Basis
CHAPTER VI — CONSENT-BASED
Classic Peacekeeping: Deployed with consent of all parties. Neutral, impartial. Monitoring ceasefires, buffer zones, DDR. Force only in self-defence. Examples: UNDOF (Golan 1974), UNFICYP (Cyprus 1964), UNIFIL (Lebanon 1978).
Force Auth:
Minimal
Impartiality:
High
CHAPTER VII — ENFORCEMENT
Peace Enforcement: Authorised to use force beyond self-defence. May operate without full consent. Examples: UNOSOM II (Somalia 1993), IFOR/SFOR (Bosnia), ISAF (Afghanistan), MONUSCO (DRC), MINUSMA (Mali).
Force Auth:
Robust
Impartiality:
Mod
CHAPTER VIII — REGIONAL
Regional Arrangements: AU, NATO, EU, ECOWAS operations with UN authorization. AMISOM (Somalia), NATO KFOR (Kosovo), EU EUFOR Althea (BiH). Hybrid command structures, variable authorities.
Force Auth:
Variable
Impartiality:
Mod-High
Three Core Principles (UN Capstone Doctrine 2008)
CONSENT
Host-state and primary parties must consent. Loss of consent triggers mission reassessment or transition to Ch.VII. Tactical-level consent must be maintained even under strategic mandate. Without consent, sustainment and freedom of movement become compromised.
IMPARTIALITY
Impartiality ≠ Neutrality. Peacekeepers must be impartial to parties but can — and under Kigali Principles (2015) must — act against mandate violators. This distinction is critical for robust PKO: acting against a violator does not compromise impartiality.
NON-USE OF FORCE
Except in self-defence and defence of the mandate. Ch.VII operations add "proactive force" to protect civilians (PoC). Kigali Principles (2015): peacekeepers have a right and obligation to protect civilians under imminent threat. Force is last resort; political/dialogue preferred.
Mission Phases
📄
UNSCR MANDATE
📋
FORCE GEN CONOPS
✈️
DEPLOY PHASE
📺️
STABILIZE PKO OPS
🤝
TRANSITION HANDOVER
🚪
DRAWDOWN EXIT
Key Tasks by Level
TACTICAL
✔Checkpoint operations and freedom of movement monitoring
✔Patrol routes — deterrence and presence reporting
✔Civilian protection at immediate risk (Kigali Principles)
⚠ROE application — self-defence vs mandate protection distinction
⚠Local population and authority interaction
⚠DDR support — Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration
✔Troop Contributing Country (TCC) coordination and caveats
⚠ROE development and cascade to tactical units
⚠Integrated Mission Planning with UNCT, DSRSG/RC
⚠Strategic communication — mandate perception management
⚠Exit strategy benchmarks — SRSG reports to Security Council
Active UN PKO Reference Data
Mission
Location
Authority
Personnel
Primary Mandate
Est.
MONUSCO
DR Congo
Ch.VII
~18,000
PoC, FDLR/ADF neutralization, DDR
1999
UNMISS
South Sudan
Ch.VII
~20,000
PoC, DDR, Rule of Law
2011
UNIFIL
Lebanon
Ch.VI/VII
~10,000
Cessation of hostilities monitoring
1978
UNDOF
Golan Heights
Ch.VI
~1,100
Disengagement monitoring
1974
UNFICYP
Cyprus
Ch.VI
~1,000
Buffer zone monitoring
1964
MINURSO
W. Sahara
Ch.VI
~500
Ceasefire monitoring
1991
CIP & CIR
Critical Infrastructure Protection & Restoration | PPD-21 · NIPP 2013 · JP 3-34 · FM 3-07 · NATO EAPC CIP · EU Directive 2022/2557
ⓘ Confirmed OOTW: PPD-21 (Feb 2013) and NIPP 2013 establish CIP as a national security imperative with 16 sectors. JP 3-34 (Engineer Operations) provides doctrine for infrastructure assessment and restoration in stability operations. FM 3-07 lists "Restore Essential Services" as Stability Task 4. CIP/CIR is embedded in HADR, Nation Assistance, NEO support, and post-conflict stabilization — all OOTW categories.
Enables all downstream restoration. Priority nodes: hospitals, C2, water pumping. Ref: USACE Power Restoration Handbook.
2
WATER / WASTEWATER
Potable water prevents mass casualty disease outbreaks. WHO Emergency WASH Standards. Military water purification assets.
3
COMMUNICATIONS & TRANSPORT (MSR)
C2 restoration, MSR clearance, bridge repair. Enables humanitarian access and logistics. JP 3-34 para 3-6.
4
HEALTH FACILITIES
Hospital restoration, pharmacy supply chains, medical waste. ICRC/WHO coordination. Military Medical Support.
5
ECONOMIC / GOVERNANCE
Markets, banking, civil administration. USAID, World Bank, CA teams. Long-term stabilization anchor.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT — OOTW
CJCS SROE · UN ROE (ST/SGB/2003/13) · NATO MC 362-1 · JP 1-04 Legal Support · DoD Law of War Manual
⚖ Critical Distinction: OOTW ROE differ fundamentally from wartime ROE. The default is minimum force, proportionality is rigidly enforced, and political sensitivity is at its highest. Over-restrictive ROE caused failures at Srebrenica (1995) and Mogadishu (1993). Under-restrictive ROE creates CIVCAS incidents and mission delegitimization. Balance is everything.
ROE Matrix by Operation Type
Operation
Force Auth
Hostile Intent
Warning Shots
Lethal Force
Detention
Arms Control
Defensive
Observer only
No
Self-defence only
Host-nation
Counter-Terrorism
Offensive
Pre-empt auth
Situational
HVT lethal auth
LOAC rules
Peacekeeping (Ch.VI)
Self-def only
No pre-emption
Conditional
Last resort only
SOFA reqd
Peace Enforce (Ch.VII)
Robust
PoC auth
Authorized
Mandate protect
SOFA terms
NEO
Protective
Defensive
Conditional
Evacuee protection
No
HADR / FHA
Defensive
No
No
Self-defence only
No
Counter-Drug
HN-dependent
Defensive
Conditional
HN law limits
HN authority
Strikes & Raids
Offensive
Pre-empt auth
Situational
Lethal authorized
LOAC/SROE
FONOPS
Defensive
Warning auth
Conditional
Self-defence
No
Show of Force
Minimal
No
No
Self-defence only
No
Three LOAC Principles — OOTW Application
PROPORTIONALITY
Force used must be proportional to the threat. AP I Art. 51(5)(b). In OOTW this is more restrictive than in combat — incidental civilian harm has disproportionate political impact. ROE must reflect mission legitimacy requirements, not just tactical effectiveness.
NECESSITY
Force may only be used when necessary to accomplish the mission or protect the force. Non-lethal options must be considered first: warning, graduated response, show of force. SROE Encl. A, para 5. "Least harmful means" principle.
DISTINCTION
Combatants vs civilians is critical in OOTW where armed actors may not wear uniforms. Direct Participation in Hostilities (DPH) analysis required. ICRC DPH Guidance (2009). Loss of protection during DPH is functional, not status-based.
ROE Approval Chain (US Joint)
🌎
NCA / SECDEF
⭐
CJCS SROE
🗺
CCMD Suppl. ROE
📋
JTF/JFC Mission ROE
🎯
Component ROE Cards
⚔
Tactical Execution
📍 UN ROE: Separate framework under ST/SGB/2003/13. UN force commanders cannot modify ROE without DPKO approval. TCCs retain right to invoke national caveats that are more restrictive than mission ROE. US SROE applies when operating in US-commanded coalitions even alongside UN-mandated forces.
Authoritative sources underpinning this guide and all simulator scenarios
US JOINT DOCTRINE
JP 3-07 — Stability Operations (2016)▼
Primary US joint doctrine for stability operations. Supersedes FM 100-20 MOOTW. Defines stability as a joint function alongside offense, defense, intelligence, fires, movement/maneuver, sustainment, C2, and protection.
JP 3-07.3 — Peace Operations (2012)▼
Defines US doctrine for PKO, Peace Enforcement, Peacemaking, Peacebuilding. Covers UN-led vs US-led operations, TCC relationships, SRSG interface, ROE framework for peace ops. Confirmed OOTW.
JP 3-28 — Defense Support to Civil Authorities▼
Governs DoD response to domestic disasters (Stafford Act), civil disturbances (Posse Comitatus), and CIP in the homeland. NorthCom/NGB lead. FEMA primary federal agency.
JP 3-29 — Foreign Humanitarian Assistance (2019)▼
US joint doctrine for FHA/HADR overseas. USAID/OFDA as lead; DoD in supporting role. DART integration. Civil-military coordination principles. CMOC establishment and operation.
JP 3-34 — Engineer Operations (2011)▼
Infrastructure assessment, route clearance, construction, facility restoration. Basis for CIR military operations. HEST (Humanitarian Engineering Support Team) framework. Stability Task 4 implementation doctrine.
JP 3-26 — Counter-Terrorism (2014)▼
CT operations: FID, UW, DA, SR, PSYOP, CA. Offensive CT (lethal/non-lethal) and defensive CT (anti-terrorism). Legal authorities: AUMF, Title 10/50. CJCSI 3165.01 CIVCAS reporting.
JP 3-68 — NEO▼
Noncombatant Evacuation Operations doctrine. Chief of Mission authority, Warden system, assembly area procedures, priority order (US citizens first, designated aliens, TCNs), alternate extract planning.
NATO / UN / INTERNATIONAL
AJP-3.4 — Allied Non-Art.5 Crisis Response▼
NATO doctrine for non-Article 5 operations: Peace Support, Humanitarian, Evacuation, CIP. NATO crisis management framework, planning process, mission command in coalition ops.
AJP-3.4.1 — Peace Support Operations▼
NATO PSO doctrine: PKO, Peace Enforcement, Peacebuilding under NATO command. KFOR (Kosovo) lessons, ROE framework, mandate implementation, TCC coordination.
UN Capstone Doctrine (DPKO/DFS, 2008)▼
The United Nations Peacekeeping Operations — Principles and Guidelines. Defines three principles (consent, impartiality, non-use of force), five activities, and mission planning framework. Foundational PKO doctrine.
Kigali Principles on PoC (2015)▼
Endorsed by 50+ TCCs at Kigali Summit 2015. Peacekeepers have right AND obligation to protect civilians under threat. Reinterprets "impartiality": acting against perpetrators of violence is consistent with impartiality.
ST/SGB/2003/13 — UN Force ROE▼
Secretary-General's Bulletin on IHL observance by UN forces. Legal basis for ROE in UN-commanded operations. Detention, treatment of detainees, use of force provisions. TCCs may impose national restrictions.
US POLICY & LAW
PPD-21 — Critical Infrastructure Security (2013)▼
Presidential Policy Directive 21 establishes CI security as national policy. Identifies 16 CI sectors. Assigns Sector-Specific Agencies. Supersedes EO 13636. DHS as overall coordinator. Basis for CIP as confirmed OOTW.
NIPP 2013 — National Infrastructure Protection Plan▼
Partnering for Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience. Risk management framework. Public-private partnership model. Sector-specific plans. Reference for military CIP operations in stability ops.
FM 3-07 — Stability (Army, 2014)▼
Defines five stability tasks: Civil Security, Civil Control, Restore Essential Services (CIR), Support to Governance, Support to Economic Development. Primary Army doctrine for OOTW ground operations.