gade and Command level and currently serves as a
Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Joint Special Operations University and as a Subject Matter Expert for
the Joint Civil Military Campaign Planning Course at
the Joint Special Operations University, U.S. Special
Operations Command.
Reviewing “Peace and Stability Lesson from Bosnia,” by Max G. Manwaring, which appeared in the
1998 Winter publication of Parameters, Colonel Church
asked Major General Matthews, when harkening back
to his service in Bosnia, if he recalled those specific
examples of those individuals for whom he may have
served who the “right” or mature “mind set” when
understanding challenges specific to the execution of
Civil Affairs operations and or civil military operations. Major General Matthews commented that he
knew of Mr. Manwaring’ effort and many other numerous after action, lessons learned reports that were
written and several of which quoted the general.
Major General Matthews commanded at the Brigade and Command level during his time in BosniaHerzegovina. History notes that NATO conducted
its first major crisis response operation in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The NATO-led Implementation Force
(IFOR) was deployed in December 1995 to implement
the military aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement
and was replaced a year later by the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR). SFOR helped to maintain a
secure environment and facilitate the country’s reconstruction in the wake of the 1992-1995 war.
When recalling his time in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Major General Matthews was quick to concede that
“the senior guys got it” but that the real challenge that
remained was educating the colonels and below. He
further offered that there was a particular challenge
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