Risk-based methodology for support of operations other than war

Since the conclusion of the Cold War, the United States military has increasingly participated in small-scale contingencies and operations other than war (OOTW). An OOTW has information requirements, rules of engagement, and interoperability considerations that are different from conventional military operations. Lessons learned from Somalia, Bosnia, and Kosovo highlight the need for new decisionmaking methodologies that directly address the special needs and concerns associated with an OOTW. The methodologies combine several forms of probabilistic risk analysis and systems analysis to assist in decisionmaking in a joint warfare environment, particularly at the operational level.