Student Writing Guidelines: Posture Statement Analysis Essay Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) Commander’s

Student Writing Guidelines: Posture Statement Analysis Essay

Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) Commander’s Congressional Testimony

(i.e., Posture Statement) for DSCU SCO Operations Course

The intent for a Writing Assignment in the form of a SHORT Essay comes from these SCO curriculum objectives and supports the first Core Competency of an SC professional (Country & Regional Orientation and Awareness). Course Curriculum objectives state also graduates will be able to:

Measure strategic level guidance, evaluate the partner nation’s (PN) will and ability to achieve desired security cooperation objectives, create solutions, and propose courses of action (considering risks/assumptions) to align U.S. and PN strategic objectives

Evaluate and exhibit integrative knowledge, application, and synthesis of core SC concepts, tools, considerations, and programs involved with Case execution and lifecycle management; SC planning, oversight, and execution; international student training, and SCO operations

Assess, reflect and analyze the political, military, economic, social, informational and infrastructural operational environment of an international region and/or country

Compose and defend recommended solutions to various stakeholders in order to solve SC issues, while aligning U.S. and partner nation interests

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Academic Description and Scenario for your paper prepared for your Ambassador:

You’re assigned to the SCO office in your respective country. You were tasked by your DCM via your SDO/DATT to prepare a short paper for your ambassador who has been away for an extended period and is not up to speed on some key activities in “your” country. She’s especially interested in the respective Combatant Commander’s most recent testimony to Congress and wants a clearer understanding of the salient points from YOUR perspective on the priorities stated in that testimony.

You’ve studied a copy of that testimony (also called a “Posture Statement”) and now the DCM has told you to compose a narrative which follows a directed format and length; details follow. NOTE: Testimony (“Posture Statement”) should not be confused with Theater Strategy or the Commander’s Campaign Plan, both of which may be classified documents. Your essay must be based on UNCLASS references and must show a keen knowledge of the Posture Statement as it relates to your region and/or your country specifically.

You’re expected to “meet” the ambassador in the sedan at the airport to accompany her on the drive back to the Embassy compound. It’s a long drive. You’ll submit your finished (final) draft of your paper to the ambassador (at 08:00 a.m. EDT on Day 16 of the SCO Course) complete with your Bibliography/Works Cited on the last page. The original Posture Statement will be included on your Bibliography and referenced as you see it mentioned below. The only document you’re preparing for the ambassador is your paper because she doesn’t have time or inclination to read the entire 30+ pages of testimony or your supporting references.

Source Posture Statements to be used as basis of your essay:

AFRICOM: GEN Townsend, Stephen J., Statement Before the Senate Armed Forces Committee (16 March 2023)

CENTCOM: Statement of GEN Michael “Erik” Kurilla On the Posture of U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND (SASC Hearing, Mar 16, 2023)

EUCOM: GEN Christopher G. Cavoli, Commander US European Command (26 April 2023)

INDO-PACOM: Admiral Aquilino, John C., USN, Commander US INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND Statement before the Senate Armed Services Committee on US INDO-PACIFIC Command Posture (18 April 2023)

NORTHCOM-NORAD: GEN VanHerck, Glen D., USAF, Statement to the House Armed Services Committee (8 March 2023)

SOUTHCOM: GEN Richardson, Laura J., Statement before the 118th Congress, House Armed Services Committee (March 8, 2023)

Specified Tasks:

Read your respective GCC Posture Statement. Identify up to five or six essential “priorities” as articulated by the commander but your paper will only expand upon 1 (2 AT MOST) that, in your view, merit the Ambassador’s focus because they are relevant to your country or region. If all the GCC commander’s priorities are relevant to your country, then chose the most significant ones in your view and state why these merit your country team’s focus.

The thesis of your analytical essay will state essential issues that the ambassador should know and why you have chosen this one (or 2) for her awareness.

Justify your choices by drawing in at least one outside published reference source (up to 3 are permissible) that supports why you chose the 2-3 areas you selected.

This is not an assignment to produce Talking Points or slides.

Do not provide a list of current FMS/BPC cases. Rather, briefly highlight any identifiable and relevant issues (e.g., border security; cyber defense and security; maritime domain awareness; air defense; greater interoperability with allies or partners such as the United States; enhanced professional (military) education or enduring relationship building initiatives) and expand in your own words (2 or 3 sentences at most) why they are essential for engagement with your associated country or region.

Explain why, in your own words, these issues are important and how they directly relate to your Security Cooperation enterprise within your region and/or country.

Rationale for your 2-3 isolated priorities should be justified by at least one published reference, but two or three reference articles would strengthen your position.

Seek the assistance of our DSCU Library staff. They will lead you to valuable online resources.

Your essay should include a Title Page with the following info:

Title: Analysis of [INSERT YOUR Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) title here] Posture Statement dated DD MMM YYYY

Your Rank and Name (first and last are sufficient)

SCO Operations Course Number (e.g., SCO Ops W01 2024)

Date Completed or Due Date of the Essay

You must “quote” your references by Author(s), Title, and page number, IAW the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) as presented within the Purdue University Online Writing Lab. Use this link (below) and follow these guidelines for using quotations and how to properly cite your supporting references. Where CMOS may explain a variety of citation options, DSCU SCO Department requests that you use the footnote/citation method. [CUT AND PASTE THIS LINK INTO YOUR BROWSER.]

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html

Grading and Submission:

Your paper will be reviewed by one of the Regional Seminar instructors and in accordance with the DSCU SCO Essay Rubric. If a paper does not meet basic academic standards IAW with the Analysis Essay Rubric, then another Regional Instructor may conduct a secondary review.

The purpose of the essay is to help exercise and possibly to improve ability in effective writing.

Grammar (including punctuation), proper formatting, and strength of analysis are essential to a well-written essay. So please proofread your paper or have someone do this for you.

1” margins on top, left-right, and bottom. No page numbering is needed. Double-spaced. Aim for 750 words – this comes out to three (3) full pages, typed, 12 pt font. If you find yourself at page 4 and still writing, then feel free to seek the advice of your Faculty Advisor.