Arctic Operations: Don't Forget Cultural Intelligence

• Main Author: Clayton, III, William J
• Other Authors: NAVAL WAR COLLEGE NEWPORT RI JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS DEPT
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Sociology and Law; Military Operations; Strategy and Tactics; *ARCTIC REGIONS; *CULTURE; *INDIGENOUS POPULATION; *MILITARY OPERATIONS; BENEFITS; ECONOMICS; INTELLIGENCE; MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES); NATURAL RESOURCES; REGIONS; SAFETY; STRATEGY; CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE; Arctic; NORTHCOM
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA609245; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA609245

The rush for Arctic natural resources and their economic benefits, combined with disputed claims to territory in the region, has driven some Arctic nations to begin establishing a more robust military presence in the area. As the U.S. military increases such operations to keep the Arctic safe from internal and external threats, cultural intelligence cannot be forgotten. The paper will argue that in order to ensure U.S. success in future Arctic operations, the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) Commander must establish Arctic cultural intelligence as an integral part of the planning process. It will define what cultural intelligence is and why it is an important operational consideration. It will also explain why having cultural intelligence is specifically needed in the Arctic as a planning consideration. Finally, this paper will explore avenues the NORTHCOM Commander can use to gain cultural intelligence on the Arctic indigenous people.