What is mine is yours: the art of operational integration.

Integrating partners, both joint and multinational, is essential to victory for the United States Army in today's complex world. How does a commander successfully integrate partners into his operations so that they can together attain their objectives? Current doctrine contends that this is important, but does not offer any guidance on the tools necessary to ensure effective integration. This monograph proposes that the personality of the commander is of the utmost importance when attempting to integrate partners. A commander who strives to achieve shared understanding with his partner, is willing to use his force to help his partner accomplish his mission, and is humble and self-aware can effectively integrate his unit across services or national boundaries. Two contrasting case studies will be used to support this theory. The first, LTG Sandy Patch in Operation Anvil/Dragoon in 1944, will show a humble commander who strove for shared understanding with his Air Force counterpart, and used his forces to help the Air Force achieve its mission while he sought to successfully complete his own. The second case study, LTG Joseph Stilwell in the China-Burma-India in 1944, will demonstrate how his abrasive personality, a misunderstanding of strategic objectives with the Chinese, and lack of resources led to the failed integration in the disastrous First Burma campaign. The conclusion of this monograph argues that the personality of the commander is the most significant part of operational integration. The commander who is willing to listen to, assist, and respect his partner will be far more effective at integration than the commander who cannot do any of these things.