Human terrain system

The Human Terrain System (HTS) is a program under the auspices of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). HTS utilizes experts from the social science disciplines (anthropology, sociology, and political science) as well as linguistics, regional studies (Afghanistan and Iraq, currently), language, and intelligence. The goal is to provide military commanders and staff with an understanding of how societies make decisions and how resulting attitudes are shaped by the environment. Understanding assists US military forces with an understanding of the local population and provides insight on how the population may react to certain operational strategies. However the program is controversial amongst professional anthropologists, many of whom perceive it as an attempt to "weaponize" anthropology. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/americas/7042090.stm US army enlists anthropologists] BBC News] The American Anthropological Association has published a statement opposing the Human Terrain System Project. [ [http://www.aaanet.org/pdf/EB_Resolution_110807.pdf American Anthropological Association’s Executive Board Statement on the Human Terrain System Project] American Anthropological Association] HTS is currently fielding personnel to support deployed Brigade Combat Teams (U.S. Army) and, in the near future, Regimental Combat Teams (U.S. Marine Corps) in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the field, groups of five comprised of two civilian anthropologists and three military personnel are known as Human Terrain Teams or HTTs. [http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54556&archive=true Stars and Stripes: Cultural advisers give U.S. teams an edge ] ] HTTs are supported by the Research Reachback Center (RRC) performing in-depth, long-term cultural research and analysis.

Background

HTS was developed in response to identified gaps in commanders’ and staffs’ understanding of the local population and culture, and its impact on operational decisions; and poor transfer of specific socio-cultural knowledge to follow-on units. The approach is to place the expertise and experience of social scientists and regional experts, coupled with reach-back, open-source research, directly in support of deployed units engaging in full-spectrum operations. HTS informs decision-makers at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. The HTS Project is the first time that social science research and advising has been done systematically, on a large scale, and at the brigade level. The goal of the HTS is to provide relevant cultural knowledge to saves lives and reduce military and civilian conflict.

HTS Design

HTS is much more than the deployed Human Terrain Teams (HTTs). It is a complete system with several interdependent components. Human Terrain Teams (HTTs) at Brigade/Regimental-level and Human Terrain & Analysis Teams (HTATs) at echelon above Brigade-level. Fully integrated into unit staffs, HTTs provide advice on how to interact productively with the local population and represent the “human terrain” in planning, preparation, execution and assessment of operations. HTT tours of duty are carefully managed to bridge unit RIP/TOA, ensuring a smooth and complete transfer of local area Human Terrain knowledge and cultural understanding. The CONUS-based Reachback Research Center (RRC) consists of social scientists, uniformed, and civilian analysts, who are regionally focused. Currently located at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and Oyster Point, Virginia, the RRC supports deployed HTTs/HTATs in Afghanistan and Iraq. Subsequent to redeployment, many members of deployed HTTs return to function on the staff of HTS in various capacities from research and analysis to training.

HTS further employs a network of Subject Matter Expert (SMEs) consisting of on-call, micro-regional focused academic and other civilian sector experts providing specific support to the RRC.

HTS has developed the HTS “Map-HT Toolkit”. The HTS Map-HT is a hardware and software suite that is provided to deployed teams and the RRC enabling open-source research and provides usable products to supported units. The HTS Map-HT provides visualization of temporal, relational, and geospatial environment in a unified user interface.

General Information

The Human Terrain Teams are based forward with soldiers to fuse information from a variety of sources and use their training and background to provide advice to commanders. The HTTs were not intended or funded to be "collectors" or to conduct social science field research. No credible field research can be accomplished by five people wearing uniforms and carrying guns. This misperception in the role of the HTTs has generated severe criticism from social science associations to the detriment of the program. HTTs use field research data and many other sources of information to attempt to stay current with the needs of the population in the area in which they are deployed. Using the Map-HT tool to record and visualize what is learned about the populations, the HTT members can advise brigades on economic development, political systems, tribal structures, etc; and can provide training to brigade personnel as requested. HTS does not conduct intelligence operations and/or kinetic targeting, manage infrastructure projects, or provide schoolhouse pre-deployment cultural training.

References

ee also

* Afghanistan
* American Anthropological Association
* Anthropology
* Iraq
* Military Intelligence
* Operation Iraqi Freedom
* Operation Enduring Freedom

External links

Articles

* [http://www.army.mil/professionalwriting/volumes/volume4/december_2006/12_06_2.html US Army: The Human Terrain System: A CORDS for the 21st Century]
* [http://www.army.mil/professionalwriting/volumes/volume4/december_2006/12_06_1.html US Army: Why we need ethnographic intelligence]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/americas/7042090.stm BBC News: US Army enlists anthropologists]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/world/asia/05afghan.html?_r=1&ex-1349323200&en=a13ee15e97920f0f&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&oref=slogin NY Times: Army Enlists Anthropology in War Zones]
* [http://www.democracynow.org/2007/12/13/anthropologists_up_in_arms_over_pentagons Democracy Now! Anthropologists Up in Arms Over Pentagon’s “Human Terrain System” to Recruit Graduate Students to Serve in Iraq, Afghanistan]
* [http://concerned.anthropologists.googlepages.com/] Network of Concerned Anthropologists
* [http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/06/26/iraq.american.death/index.html] 2nd Academic Embed Dies in Iraq

Blogs by Anthropologists in Iraq

* [http://iraqht.blogspot.com/ Iraq's Human Terrain]
* [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humanterrain/Related_Info.html Dartmouth College: Laboratory for the Human Terrain]