Discover answers to during stability operations, what is critical to avoid doing? Learn from real lessons and expert field insights.
Let me take you back to a sun-scorched outpost tucked away in Kandahar Province. It was one of those blistering afternoons where the heat didn’t just radiate off the ground—it seemed to hang heavy in the air. I was a fresh officer, barely two months into my first deployment, still green and full of confidence. I believed I had it all figured out. But one misstep—just one—undid months of careful preparation. I learned the hard way.
In stability operations, which are difficult and complicated missions to restore order after a war, one misstep can set back months or even years of work. These aren’t the usual high-stakes warfare missions. Stability operations are a complicated mix of politics, community outreach, security patrols, humanitarian relief, and constant discussions. And trust me, there isn’t much room for mistakes.
That includes understanding workplace violence in conflict zones—how it starts, escalates, and undermines both mission success and the fragile trust built with local communities.
Whether you’re just starting out, prepping for an upcoming assignment, or simply curious about what to steer clear of when working to stabilize a region, you’re exactly where you need to be. Drawing from real-world experience, established principles, and plenty of hard-earned lessons, here are the seven critical mistakes you must avoid during stability operations.
This article will tell you what you should never do during stability operations if you’ve ever asked, “What is critical to avoid doing?”
- Making the locals feel like outsiders
I can still picture the look on the village elder’s face when our convoy pulled up, with dust flying and soldiers getting off with their weapons ready. We believed we were being careful. He thought it was an invasion.
Why it matters: The people who live there aren’t just a part of the equation; they are the equation. If you lose their faith, nothing will ever be stable. Aggressive behavior, cultural insensitivity, or not talking to them can make prospective allies become adversaries.
Don’t do it by:
- Teaching soldiers about cultural customs.
- Using translators intelligently.
- Building trust by always being polite and consistent in your encounters.
Imagine it like settling into a new neighborhood. You won’t be asked to the block party if you come and play loud music, stomp through yards, and don’t talk to your neighbors.
What is very important to avoid doing when thinking about stability operations? – this is frequently the first thing on any officer’s list.
- Not paying attention to political changes
At the start of our deployment, we worked with a local security unit that seemed eager and ready to help. It turns out they were loyal to a rival tribe and utilized our help to get back at them. Not only did we miss the politicians, we helped them.
Why it matters: Politics are just as important to stability operations as peacekeeping. Tribal conflicts, old grudges, and power hierarchies are all important. If you ignore them, you might support the wrong individuals.
To avoid it:
- Mapping out the political scene.
- Hearing from a lot of different people in the neighborhood.
- Talking to political advisors or civil affairs divisions.
Personal lesson: I learned that we weren’t just troops when one of our villages burned down and I had to speak with our battalion commander. We were diplomats dressed like soldiers.
- Only using military solutions
“You can’t shoot your way to peace,” the villagers would say. I didn’t believe it at the moment. Now? I use it as a quote in all of my training sessions.
Why it matters: Firepower can win wars, but it can’t create schools, fix water systems, or win friends. Using too much force usually makes people angry and scared, not safe.
To stay away from it,
- Working with civil affairs, NGOs, and teams that help rebuild.
- Helping with programs for education and development.
- Not only short-term repression, but long-term security.
Using bullets to restore a broken community is like using sandpaper to treat a wound. It does more damage than good.
If you’re still not sure what to do during stability operations, what should you avoid doing? – one answer is to rely too heavily on battle tactics.
- Not working along with other people
Have you ever played one of those games where you can’t see and everyone has to move a ball with ropes? That was our first try at working together with USAID, the UN, and the police in our area. Just pure anarchy.
Why it matters: During stability operations, military, humanitarian, and diplomatic agencies all work in the same place. Working in silos costs time and money and makes things harder.
To avoid it,
- Going to meetings to plan together.
- Sharing information and resources.
- Setting up clear ways for people to talk to each other.
We realized that once we put up a shared operations center, things changed completely. We weren’t just doing things properly; we were doing the right things together.
This leads directly to the bigger question: what actions should you steer clear of during stability operations? Not being able to work together is a massive red flag.
- Not Making Plans for the Future
We celebrated what felt like a great triumph in my third month: a ceasefire agreement in the area. We opened MREs and shook hands with each other. A week later, the deal fell through. Why? No plan for the long term.
Why it matters: Stability is not always strong. Temporary peace doesn’t continue without a plan for governance, security, and development.You have to be capable of maintaining momentum.
To avoid it,
- Thinking beyond the conclusion of the mission.
- Increasing the ability of local governments.
- Helping education, justice, and the economy grow.
It’s like mending a leaking pipe without fixing the pressure valve. Sure, it will hold—until it doesn’t.
- Not realizing how important information
operations are I was startled at how quickly a rumor could lead to violence. One villager said that our troops had defiled a holy place. Angry mobs gathered within hours. It wasn’t true, but the harm was done.
Why it matters: In the digital world, how people see things can change reality quicker than you can act. Stories are important. If you lose the information battle, you lose the mission.
To avoid it, do:
- Keeping an eye on local media and social media.
- Being open about working with the community.
- Use local radio, social media, and respected people to get your message out.
Personal reflection: After that event, we added a small IO team to our planning group. They weren’t spectacular, yet they rescued our mission more than once.
- Not honouring the culture and religion of the area
One of our interpreters once told me, “You are guests in this land.” Do it. That hurt a lot. I learnt that it’s easy to hurt someone’s feelings without meaning to.
Why it matters: Respect for other cultures and religions is more than just being nice. It’s about showing that you care about and understand the folks you’re attempting to aid.
Don’t do it by:
- Learning important rules and norms.
- Following local holidays and customs.
- Dressing and acting in a way that is appropriate for the situation.
Think about someone coming into your church or family gathering, making jokes, wearing clothes that aren’t proper, and not following your rules. What would you think?
It’s a great illustration of how to answer the question, “What should you not do during stability operations?”
Article Breakdown
Key Takings:
- If you take nothing else from this article, remember this: stability operations require a different lens. They demand patience, empathy, diplomacy, and humility. It’s not about “winning” in the traditional sense. It’s about building something that lasts.
- The mistakes I shared here aren’t just theoretical. They’re lived experiences, shaped by heat, pressure, missteps, and reflection. I’ve been the guy who got it wrong so you don’t have to. And trust me, you don’t want to learn these lessons the hard way.
- So whether you’re prepping for deployment, studying doctrine, or simply curious about what goes into building peace, keep this list close. And don’t just avoid these mistakes—lead others to avoid them too.
- Because in the end, success in stability operations isn’t measured by body counts or territory gained. It’s measured by how many schools open, how many families return, and how many children grow up without the sound of gunfire.
- And that’s worth getting right.
Additional Resources:
- FM 3-07: Stability Operations – U.S. Army Field Manual: The foundational U.S. Army manual outlining doctrine for stability operations. It details strategic frameworks, common missteps, and the necessity of adaptability in post-conflict environments.
- Enhancing Stability: A Comprehensive Guide – MilitarySphere: A practical guide focused on strategic execution and pitfalls in stability operations. Highlights the importance of civilian-military coordination and trust-building with local communities.
- Understanding Stabilization in Modern Contexts – Military Knowledge Base: Explores contemporary challenges in stabilization missions, emphasizing adaptability, interagency synergy, and lessons learned from recent U.S. deployments.
