Abstract
In order to have a chance at success, counterinsurgency (COIN) requires multinational coalition forces to cooperate; and thus, the matter of command and control among the countries is important. The ROK military achieved success of COINs in Vietnam and Iraq despite their difficult nature. Consequently, the ROK forces became a role model for coalition forces in Vietnam and Iraq. What drove the ROK forces to achieve success? An in-depth examination shows that the ROK military’s independent operational control served as the key driver for multinational coalition COIN effectiveness, from both strategic and tactical perspectives. This finding implies that the distribution of command in coalition forces is more effective than the unity of command when conducting COIN operations.
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