Irving Janis introduced the theory of groupthink in his classic study Victims of Groupthink in 1972. He attempted to determine why groups, often consisting of individuals with exceptional intellect and talent, made irrational decisions. He...
Communicating official messages to soldiers within the United States Army is an endeavor that leaders at every level have conducted since the inception of the organization. Army doctrine links communication to leadership via the terminological...
The United States and Japan had a very contentious relationship between 1939 and 1941. During this time, Japan’s strategic objectives focused on the desire for a policy of national self-sufficiency and of non-reliance on Western imports or...
The civil-military structure in which our military and its civilian authorities currently operate has grown and matured since the formation of the Army in 1775. George Washington went to great lengths to establish civilian control of the military...
This monograph looks for historical examples of information warfare in order to gain insight into its current practice. It first describes key elements of the concept of information operations, particularly as they relate to battle command. It then...
This monograph examines the advisability of purposefully cultivating a leadership image. Five historical case studies, Colonel Thomas E. Lawrence, General Douglas MacArthur, General George S. Patton, Jr., Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., and General...
The rise of industrialization coupled with the growth of technology have contributed to creating a complexity to modern warfare that far exceeds the primitive conditions of earlier periods. Defined as the creative use of distributed operations for...
The demands of 21st century military operations require an organization that is trained and equipped for independent offensive, defensive, and stability operations. This type of organization, the armored cavalry regiment, is fading from the U.S....
The current U.S. Army operating concept prominently includes stability operations built on the core competency of wide area security. Stability operations secure national goals for military action by establishing the conditions for lasting peace...
At the operational and strategic levels, military planners use the concepts of centers of gravity and decisive points to assist them in determining the best ways for accomplishing assigned tasks. By identifying the enemy's center of gravity, the...
The purpose of this monograph was to determine what tasks are critical for an aide-de-camp to perform during combat operations. Three areas provided data for this research: historical documentation, doctrinal and regulatory guidance, and...
This monograph examines the adequacy of command and control doctrine for joint amphibious operations in limited warfare, focusing on command and control structure and unity of command. Current joint doctrine in several new Joint Chiefs of Staff...
Emory Upton believed that politicians should leave war to professionals. This led to two assumptions that became conventional wisdom: first, an apolitical army represented a more professional force; and second, the problems at the tactical and...
This monograph explores the often-used phrase “No more Task Force Smiths.” This catchphrase is used to express a desire to avoid the perceived mistakes that lead to the defeat of Task Force Smith during the Korean War, July 1950. It deployed...
The United States has held strong national interest in Panama since the 1840s. This interest was demonstrated by the building of the Panama Canal, its ensuing operation, and numerous military interventions into Panama concluding with Operation Just...
Combat Studies Institute developed this bibliography in response to a growing interest by the Army in the operational level of war. Defined in FM 100-5, Operations (1982), as the planning, conducting, and sustaining of larger units to obtain...
This study attempts to investigate how the Philippine Scouts originated and how they were used during the Philippine Insurrection. It focuses on determining the precedence for the U.S. Army's use of indigenous soldiers prior to 1899. Given this...
This monograph discusses joint operational targeting and the Joint Target Coordination Board. Neither concept is new to the US military, but joint doctrine has recently included specifics of the Joint Target Coordination Board. The question is, are...
The end of the 20th Century presented the United States Army a new technological and geopolitical environment. The Army has recognized this change and is adapting to operate in this new environment. The army has developed a number of new...
Course of action analysis is a critical step in the traditional military decision making process. During this step, planners determine the suitability, feasibility, and acceptability of a possible solution. Common staff procedures for analyzing...