TY  - BOOK
AU  - Sims,Christopher J.
ED  - US Army War College.
TI  - The Human Terrain System: operationally relevant social science research in Iraq and Afghanistan 
SN  - 1584877170
PY  - 2015///
CY  - Carlisle, PA
PB  - SSI and US Army War College Press
KW  - armed forces
KW  - army
KW  - social sciences
KW  - anthropology
KW  - armed conflicts
KW  - military strategy
KW  - Iraq
KW  - Afghanistan
KW  - Iraq War, 2003-
KW  - Afghan War, 2001-
N1  - "December 2015."; SIP1610; Includes bibliographical references (pages 393-444); Introduction -- Capability gap -- Two cultures -- From a military crisis -- Trial, error, and amendment -- Theory and practice -- At the limits of knowledge -- Conclusions
N2  - "The Human Terrain System embedded civilians primarily in brigade combat teams (BCTs) in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2007 and 2014 to act as a collection and dispersal mechanism for sociocultural comprehension. Set against the backdrop of the program's evolution, the experiences of these social scientists clarifies the U.S. Army's decision to integrate social scientists at the tactical level in conflict. Based on interviews, program documents, material from Freedom of Information Act requests, and secondary sources, this book finds a series of limiting factors inhibiting social science research at the tactical level, common to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Complexity in integrating civilians into the military decision making cycle, creating timely research with a high level of fidelity, and making granular research resonate with brigade staff all contributed to inhibiting the overall effect of the Human Terrain System. Yet, while high operational tempo in contested spaces complicates social science research at the tactical level, the author argues that there is a continued requirement for a residual capability to be maintained by the U.S. Army"--Publisher's web site
UR  - http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/download.cfm?q=1308
ER  -