The purpose of this paper is to employ an historical analysis of a campaign as a case study in order to examine the utility of military theory as a guide to decision making and campaign planning. Specifically, the paper uses the Normandy Campaign...
This monograph examines the problem of conducting a defense along a wide front. With the broad sectors assigned to some of our divisions in Europe and the huge frontages that divisions in contingency roles may be required to defend, this is a...
The purpose of this study is to determine the most appropriate command and control system for the U.S. Army fire support system. Specifically, it addresses the question of how tactical fire direction should be controlled in the direct support field...
The purpose of this monograph is to examine the doctrine of retrograde operations. Specifically, it answers the question: does current doctrine provide sufficient guidance for retrograde operations at the operational level of war? To answer the...
Historically, the army that concentrates adequate deception effort against specific enemy vulnerabilities to deception has usually been successful in this operation. The army that neglects its potential for vulnerability to deception is often not...
This monograph discusses considerations that a tactical commander should make in determining his position during an engagement, and from these considerations suggests criteria that should guide his decision. The tactical commander is a significant...
This study investigates the question that if valid operational intelligence is available, are there reasons or factors that preclude it from contributing to or providing operational success? Case studies utilizing intelligence indicators from Pearl...
The decentralized command and control system required to execute AirLand Battle Doctrine presents a significant challenge to tactical leaders. Incapable of predicting the critical place on the battlefield or occupying multiple vantage points...
The full power of America’s combat capability has been restrained in a variety of forms since World War II. Restrictions on the use of military force as a political instrument have characterized each confrontation. The purpose of this paper is to...
This monograph deals with the assessment process during the course of battle. The accuracy of assessment can mean the difference in success or failure in combat. To enhance the potential for success the commander must have a method to assess the...
This monograph analyzes two historical campaigns and current doctrine to determine what information is required of the operational commander to make decisions. It looks at the nature of the information used by the operational commander in the...
The intent of this monograph is to examine whether the airborne division still retains its ability to conduct successful forced-entry missions with the new Light Infantry L-series Table Of Organization & Equipment. In order to arrive at a decision...
The intent of this monograph is to analyze whether a Marine Amphibious Force (MAF) is suitable to function as an operational reserve for an echelon above corps (EAC) headquarters. In conducting this analysis the structure of a MAF is dissected to...
This monograph addresses how combined arms organizations should be formed in our Army today. Specifically, it focuses on the question, "what arms, if any, should be combined organically at battalion level?" This issue is important because our...
This monograph examines operational surprise by answering the question, "What are the essential elements for producing operational surprise?” This issue is important because very little has been written about operational surprise despite the...
This monograph examines the relative effectiveness of three key Air Force ground support missions: Close Air Support (CAS), Battlefield Air Interdiction (BAI), and Air Interdiction (AI). The costs and benefits associated with each mission are...
Chaos is acknowledged as an integral part of battle, and future battles will be no different. At a time when the United States Army is feverishly striving to master its ability to synchronize the effects of modern weaponry on the battlefield, the...
That warfare is an uneven cycle of activity is undisputed. The most violent and active periods of war are inevitably followed by pauses in operations. Carl von Clausewitz recognized this phenomenon and devoted substantial comment in his famous...
This monograph addresses the contribution made by the campaigns in the Western Desert to the evolution of the operational art by examining theory as reflected in history. It discusses the campaigns in the Western Desert of North Africa from...
This monograph examines the adequacy of the current rear operations command and control (C2) doctrine at theater army that is contained in FM 90-14, Rear Battle. Specifically, this study seeks to determine if the TAACOM commander is the best choice...