How do U.S. Advisors Interpret Successes, Failures, and Strategic Adaptations During Joint Operations in the Philippines, and What Do These Interpretations Reveal About the Processes Shaping Advisory Outcomes Applicable to Future Strategy in the Pacific?

Author(s)

• Steven C. Miller, Liberty UniversityFollow

Date

8-20-2026

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy (PhD)

Chair

Kenneth J. Hutchinson

Keywords

Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines, U.S. advisors, Special Operations Forces, grounded theory, irregular warfare, gray zone competition, Pacific Strategy

Disciplines

Political Science | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Recommended Citation

Miller, Steven C., "How do U.S. Advisors Interpret Successes, Failures, and Strategic Adaptations During Joint Operations in the Philippines, and What Do These Interpretations Reveal About the Processes Shaping Advisory Outcomes Applicable to Future Strategy in the Pacific?" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8851.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8851

Abstract

Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines was a 14-year mission that entailed a 21st-century, long-term special operation conducted by the United States with a partnered nation in the Pacific. This qualitative study explored how U.S. advisors interpret successes, failures, and strategic adaptations during joint operations in the Philippines, and what these interpretations reveal about the processes shaping advisory outcomes applicable to future strategy in the Pacific. The research evaluated the successes, challenges, and adaptations the U.S. soldiers experienced while deploying as advisors for counterterrorism operations. Data was collected by surveying participants who served as members of the U.S. task force in the southern Philippines, coded into categories, and themed into the emergent theory of integrated strategic influence. Using structured, focused comparison, the emergent grounded theory was tested for causal relationships using process tracing. Findings reveal that U.S. advisors experienced success in strengthening the U.S.-Philippine alliance through capacity building and advising partners to conduct operations against terror groups. However, challenges existed in the areas of intelligence sharing, logistical limitations, and ineffective information operations. These findings suggest that the theory of integrated strategic influence presents a flexible framework where statecraft, warfighting functions, SOF employment, partner considerations, and adversary structure guide policy implementation. This framework provides an adaptable model that presents an economical solution to implement irregular warfare and conduct gray zone competition through regional partners. It emphasizes the importance of building the capacity of regional partners and influencing combined efforts at various levels of operations to achieve strategic objectives.