The Fate of the Civilian Surge in a Changing Environment | Page 29

visit its own strategic posture in light of the changing
interagency environment or risk going it alone again
when the next major R&S contingency occurs.75
Recommendations
The recommendations offered here for addressing
the capability gaps in the U.S. approach to R&S derive
from captured lessons learned and acknowledging
the advancements made in R&S that are benefitting
interagency coordination in other areas. The first three
recommendations aim to strengthen the goodwill and
teamwork of public servants across the U.S. government, who collectively work to advance the nation’s
common security goals, but whose relationships became strained during the conversion of S/CRS to the
CSO Bureau.
1. Expand the work of the interagency task force
on fragile states – currently focusing on early
warning mechanisms and conflict assessment
tools – to refine other technical tools that facilitate interagency coordination and best practices. For example, develop joint vocabulary
to define security challenges and the capabilities required to address them. The task forces
should also develop and test common performance indicators and standards, while providing these as technical assets for the incoming
administration.
2. Under the auspices of the interagency task force,
conduct “3-D” planning exercises focused on
addressing current or impending challenges
related to state fragility. Use these interagency

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