Improving the PRT-Military Relationship

Via e-mail and subtitled A U.S. Army Member of an Iraq Provincial Reconstruction Team Offers Practical Advice to Foreign Service Colleagues.

To the crew at Small Wars Journal:

I’m a pretty religious reader of your site but have not been a commenter or contributor to date. This morning, an Army officer friend sent me this short article, which he had received from a mutual friend in the State Department. I thought it might create some interesting discussion on your site.

The piece, which was published in the February issue of the Foreign Service Journal (Improving the PRT-Military Professional Relationship by Captain Sean Walsh), offers suggestions from an Army Captain on how foreign service officers can work more effectively as part of PRTs. In a nutshell, his recommendations are 1) recognize that the military is in charge; 2) shape your priorities accordingly; 3) learn our lingo; and 4) don’t bum rides from us. It struck us all as an extraordinarily narrow and counterproductive mindset, especially coming from a young officer. At any rate, perhaps you can use.

Hat tip to Mark for sending this along.