ARRC JOURNAL
Recommendations and
reflections in modern RSOM
Legal framework. As experienced by the
Spanish, troops must be fully covered by
a legal framework that defines the status
of the force and the range of host nation
support.
Status and control of the routes.
Route control and availability are key.
The works carried out by the sappers of
that time were very close to what could
be expected today for engineers during
RSOM, according to doctrine.
Logistic operators and contractors.
European kings during the time of
Renaissance relied on markets exactly
like official agencies do nowadays. The
role of the Spanish Road in this sense
shows how to deal with it in a balanced
approach and with profitable results.
These three points are aligned with
support structure, force protection and
convoy operations, which are two of the
essential enabling factors for RSOM,
according to ATP 3.13.1.
Strategical
Communication
and
Civil Military Cooperation. These two
functions should be aligned with the
achievement of freedom of movement
(stated in ATP 3.13.1 as one of the goals
to achieve). The lack of distrust by locals
was mostly assured by the discipline of
the troops and the execution of missions
today has to be carried out in the same
exemplary manner.
Importance of the Staging Areas. Like
it was done then, in the framework of
a RSOM operation, there has to be
a detailed programme of activities to
perform in order to make possible the
transition from transport configuration to
a fighting one.
Medical Staging. Even in the 16th
century the Spanish were aware that
the provision of medical care is essential
during RSOM operations and should be
mission-tailored to confirm the medical
timelines. This is also reflected in the
aforementioned ATP.
Conclusion
The study of great military actions from
the past will always be a rich source of
knowledge and a very useful tool for
planning current and future operations.
When planning for today´s deployments,
it is undeniable that a realistic approach
is to be made, taking into account the
tools and the right framework, and even
current doctrine is to be tempered with
more recent experiences. What is clear
throughout is that daring, determination
and accurate planning was as key to
success then as it is now.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Major Juan Ariza Gómez is a 23-
year veteran of the Spanish Army and
currently serves as the Military Assistant
to the Commander of the ARRC’s
Enabling Command. In his previous
assignment he served as a staff officer
for Spanish Land Forces Headquarters
in Seville, Spain. Maj. Ariza has led
logistics and peacekeeping operations
across an array of theatres to include
Kosovo, Pakistan and Lebanon. A native
of Seville, Spain, Maj. Ariza graduated
from the Spanish Staff College in Madrid
in 2015.