Scope Question Regarding 'Act of Military Force'

[PhiBabs935]

It is not fully clear to me what is the intended scope of CCO's 'Act of Military Force'

It is defined as follows: "A Planned Act of employing a Military Force to achieve some desired result."

'Military Force' is defined in the Military Operations Ontology as: "An Object Aggregate that consists of Military Personnel, Military Resources (such as weapon systems or equipment), and necessary support, or some combination thereof."

Now, the definition of 'Act of Military Force' is definitely broad. It seems to have in its scope any Planned Act that employs a Military Force. But was that the intention? For instance, consider:

"foreign humanitarian assistance — Department of Defense activities conducted outside the United States and its territories to directly relieve or reduce human suffering, disease, hunger, or privation. Also called FHA. See also foreign assistance. (JP 3-29)"

Presumably, FHA operations employ a Military Force--i.e. a group of Military Personnel using a military aircraft to perform an airdrop of food and supplies to a foreign country.

Are such Planned Acts meant to be in the scope of 'Act of Military Force'? If not, the definition would need to be refined.

[PhiBabs935]

I looked again at the Military Operation Ontology. And one of the subclasses of Military Operation is 'Noncombat Military Operation'.

So, I think that answers the question of my original post!

That said, it may still be helpful to add a scope note for Act of Military Force (e.g. that it covers things like foreign assistance operations conducted by military personnel). As my boss likes to often point out, it is common (mis)perception that the military is just a combat organization.

[BrendaBraitling]

It seems correct as stated.

This is indeed a problem of the common use of the word force and this use of the word force. Armed and Unarmed Forces, Military and Civilian Forces, Economic Forces, Environmental Forces - to force a door

a military force or economic force etc regarding resources and power are really a description of capacity that can be utilized or directed -

a force represents power that can be directed - noting that it can be resisting another force like inertia, reinforcing another force and in deference to electrons and detente be a static force :)

An 'act of force' should be defined as a planned act unilaterally leveraging resources including power to attain a desired result, generally to overcome a restraint, force against or constraint upon any given unilateral action. This seems true across all domains.

forcing a locked door
forced to stay home because I am grounded
forced smile
overwhelmed by the force of the flood
overcoming the force of gravity

So then each of the current tariff actions taken in our globla economy would be an act of force using economic resources.

? So the question I would have, then is - would this be better logically - if we used act of force in a pure form, rather than applying distinctives to it?

It would be expressed as
An act of force initiated by a Military Force to defend the perimeter - to penetrate the enemy line - to prepare for invasion -
An act of force initiated by a police officer against a door - to hold back the rioters
... by a parent to punish the teen for not doing chores.

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Just seeing your follow up --
Hope this helps ...