Winning the Peace

Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the U.S. military has accomplished a significant shift toward organizing, training, and equipping to conduct counterinsurgency and stability operations. The Provincial Reconstruction Team is a key asset in the conduct of stability operations and provides the Department of Defense with unique stability operations capabilities. Even as PRTs' contributions have been noted and the DOD has issued guidance directing the Services to organize, train, and equip for stability operations, the U.S. military has not codified the PRT model; PRTs remain in existence only as ad hoc units. In order to institutionally codify the stability operations lessons from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to ensure the Combatant Commanders are armed with adequate stability operations capabilities for future conflicts, the PRT or a variant thereof must become a standing unit within the United States military.