The U.S. military's system of duplicative and competitive active duty recruiting contributes to and perpetuates the failure of DOD-wide recruiting efforts. Given the significant changes in the U.S. economy, and the relinquishment of market-share by...
Gulf War images of oil soaked birds and burning oil wells continue to generate academic research on the environment as both a victim and a weapon of war. The resulting literature has sensitized policy makers and military leaders to the...
Recent historiography has almost universally denounced the tactical prowess of the American Expeditionary Force. However, a detailed analysis of the performance of the 42nd Division’s 165th Infantry Regiment tells a surprisingly different story....
The bitter lessons of history have taught West Africa that there are no longer respectable alternatives to democracy after the collapse of communism. Nonetheless, governance in West Africa in the 21st century remains the greatest problem because...
The United States' Civil War ended in 1865. However, the post-conflict period immediately following, known as Reconstruction, lasted another twelve years. This era provides a great case study to examine the impacts of politics on military stability...
The realist paradigm is the USG's dominate perspective for conflict analysis. Historically, this perspective has served the United States well, leading to its ascension from colonial possession to global hegemon in less than two centuries. There is...
The 21st Century has been dubbed an “era of persistent conflict” by U.S. military leaders. As a result, United States’ defense forces will have to operate in environments requiring a variety of “full spectrum operations” for the near...
Following the period from 1957-1960, when most countries in West Africa broke loose from colonialism and became independent, the need for an integrated and classless society was one of paramount concern to most, if not all, West Africans. Up to...
Our last experience with the sustainment of operational forces in a conflict within an area of operations was nearly two decades ago. Our most recent experiences in contingency operations have failed to stress our operational sustainment...
War, diplomacy and economic sanctions are three cornerstones of strategy that have, in the past, successfully coerced rogue regimes to capitulate. However, it may be time to look beyond these persuasion techniques and develop a new method that can...
Planning is perhaps the most difficult human activity. It is even more problematic when that future is uncertain and the implications of today’s decisions endure for years. For the military, planning is particularly consequential, since poor...
The purpose of this paper is to answer the following question: Does the generation of Iranians born after the 1979 revolution wish to continue living under the system established by Ayatollah Khomeini, or do they wish to modernize (or perhaps...
Throughout our Army’s history the Noncommissioned Officer has made significant contributions. The NCO Creed starts off with “I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of Soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a...
An ethical dilemma facing the Army at present is the disappointment of noncommissioned officers not setting the example and adhering to standards and regulations. As noncommissioned officers it is our ethical duty to do set the example every day....
Is America's counterinsurgency (COIN) effort being shortchanged? Does a one-dimensional doctrine fail to exploit America's full COIN potential? Would a genuinely joint approach provide better options to decision-makers confronted with the harsh...
This is an historical study of mechanized infantry doctrine. It focuses on issues encountered in the U.S. Army with the introduction in 1982 of an Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). Professional reaction to IFV fielding was mixed among both military...
Drill Sergeants and their challenges in today's society to produce physical and
mentally fit Soldiers without violating their ethics. Standard Operation Procedures for training new Soldiers eliminates ethical dilemmas.
I believe the Army has created a way for us to deal with ethical dilemmas but cannot create a 100% foolproof system that we as leaders will feel we have always chosen the correct course of action.
The United States entered the Spanish American War almost three years after the war's beginning. Ultimately, the war liberated Cuba from Spain and the US proved its newly found war-fighting capabilities.
Historians have given several accounts on...
In reading military history, we gather information that gives us a better perspective on the reasons we do the things we do. It also has a more profound objective in educating us in what not to do. Military history provides leaders the resources...