Accession Number:

AD1039939

Title:

Crisis to Catalyst: The Strategic Effects of the Somalia Affair on the Canadian Armed Forces

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report,05 Jun 2016,25 May 2017

Corporate Author:

US Army School for Advanced Military Studies Fort Leavenworth United States

Personal Author(s):

• Strickland,Richard T.

Report Date:

2017-05-25

Pagination or Media Count:

61.0

Abstract:

This historically based monograph uses a combination of primary and secondary sources, Canadian doctrine, and academic theory to explain how the Somalia Affair has affected the Canadian Armed Forces CAF. It shows how tactical incidents in Somalia, during the UNITAF mission, triggered a strategic crisis that was fundamentally mishandled by the extant strategic leadership, and then formed a catalyst for significant strategic and institutional effects, which continue to impact the CAF to this day. It clearly demonstrates that the Somalia Affair ruptured Canadian civil-military relations, adversely impacted the professional autonomy of the military, and forced an unprecedented evolution of the Canadian officer corps. Following a detailed literature review, each element of the Affair is discussed, enabling observation of the leadership and ethical failings which generated the strategic effects. Focus subsequently turns to the principle strategic effects and their continued impact on the CAF and the society it serves. In conclusion, several implications are discussed.

Descriptors:

• Military forces (Foreign)
• military history
• SOMALIA
• doctrine
• Military training
• UNITED NATIONS
• literature surveys
• military operations
• CANADA
• MILITARY STRATEGY

Subject Categories:

• Military Forces and Organizations

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE