U.S. Army War College Key Strategic Issues List (KSIL) 2012-2013

Abstract : The Key Strategic Issues List (KSIL) is published annually for the purpose of making students and other researchers aware of strategic topics that are, or are likely to become, of special importance to the U.S. Army. The list is a compilation of input from the faculty at the Strategic Studies Institute, the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army's senior leadership, as well as from civilian and military defense experts. The topics are updated annually and reflect current as well as ongoing strategic concerns. The underlying theme this year is strategic rebalancing -- as the U.S. Army prepares to shift its focus from counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations to carrying out rebalancing initiatives, shaping the strategic environment, deterring regional aggression, improving crisis response capabilities, and completing its downsizing efforts. Consolidation of important strategic and tactical successes in the war against al Qaeda also will continue, as will the efforts to distill lessons from the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Functional Strategic Issues: Landpower Employment -- Evolving Roles and Missions; Landpower Generation and Sustainment; Strategy and Military Change in an Austere Environment; Leadership, Civil-Military Relations, and Culture; Cyber Attack/Defense, Networks, Information Technology; and Homeland Security/Civil Support. Evolving Regional Strategic Issues: Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South and Central Asia, and Western Hemisphere. Command Sponsored Topics from the National Guard Bureau, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), U.S. Army's Cyber Command (ARCYBER), U.S. European Command (EUCOM), U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC-ARCIC).