Military Review English Edition January-February 2015 | Page 84

(Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane)

U.S. Air Force Sgt. Lucas Simmons of the Laghmaan Provincial Reconstruction Team teaches an Afghan child how to do the fist bump
during a security patrol in Qarghah’i District, Laghman Province, Afghanistan, 8 September 2011.

Winning Trust Under Fire
Lt. Col. Aaron A. Bazin, U.S. Army
Once you realize that they have the same wants, needs, and desires that we do, you’ll establish the trust of the local population. You will be successful. You’ll not always be successful; sometimes there are some external factors that may prohibit
that when you get into some of the more extremist ideologies but that is the exception.
—Maj. Leslie Parks in the “Operational Leadership Experiences” collection, 2010

I

n war, soldiers often pursue the negative aim of
imposing one nation’s will upon another through
the force of arms. However, at the conclusion of a
war, or during activities other than combat, a soldier’s
primary purpose can become much different: to influence the will of others positively, using constructive
means. Military forces often pursue positive actions
essential to reassure allies, influence neutrals, and
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dissuade potential adversaries. Influencing a nation or
a cultural group depends on winning the trust of those
who can influence others. As such, any soldier or military leader who cannot win the trust of key influencers
risks failing to accomplish the mission.
How do service members build trust with key
indigenous stakeholders—influencers—in the current
security environment? In this article, I will describe
January-February 2015   MILITARY REVIEW