Tempo is a key characteristic of offensive operations. It is the means by which the attacker keeps the defender off balance and prevents him from taking effective countermeasures. In the attack, reconnaissance units are key to gathering...
General Schwarzkopf was unhappy with the tempo of the VII Corps attack during Operation Desert Storm. Likewise, a recent Rand study of over 115 NTC battles highlighted the technique of overwatch as a significant detractor to sustaining tempo in the...
The noted Prussian theorist, Carl von Clausewitz wrote about the concentration of forces in space, and the unification of forces in time, as though they were two separate entities. Albert Einstein, however, with the advent of his theories on...
The essence of Soviet maneuver theory rests on two tenets: rapid tempo and concentrated firepower. A dynamic relationship exists between these two conditions. For the Soviets to succeed in the attack they must organize their forces so that they can...
Counterinsurgency and unconventional war have dominated both the intellectual focus and the operational employment of the U.S. Army for the last decade, and are expected to remain a prevalent challenge for the foreseeable future. One of the primary...
The purpose of this monograph is to examine the characteristics of Force XXI operations and the capabilities of Light Infantry Divisions. The question to be answered is: Can the Light Infantry Division conduct offensive operations to the tempo...
This monograph examines risk and tempo as components of warfighting which are inextricably linked and dependent upon a commander who is capable of assessing and accepting risk. The study analyzes three operational maneuvers (Marne, Anzio, Inchon)...
The operational level of war translates strategic goals into guidance for tactical actions. Because war has expanded in terms of time, space, and mass, modern wars cannot be decided in a single battle; instead commanders must concentrate combat...
This paper analyzes the concept of operational tempo from the Soviet perspective. It examines the nature of high-tempo operations, the dynamics of these operations, and proposes ways to counter a future Soviet high-tempo operation in Europe. By...
New technology is making the battlefield increasingly lethal. Precision guided and brilliant munitions linked to real-time and near real-time intelligence is threatening battlefield mobility. Maximizing the capabilities of these new munitions and...
With the end of the Cold War, the threat of imminent conflict diminished greatly. The United States, no longer immediately threatened by any nation, significantly decreased defense spending and reduced its military forces. However, the number of...
This study investigates a possible correlation between operational tempo and Army Reserve unit personnel readiness. Operational tempo requires examination because previous studies have discounted the impact of operational tempo. Factors may...
Recent operations have demonstrated that units executing rapid yet protracted operations continue to experience significant problems in maintaining tempo. Whether attacking or defending, forces are likely to execute a passage of lines. This is...
This monograph discusses the elements and dynamics of tactical surprise on the mid- to high-intensity conventional battlefield. Surprise has been a decisive principle of war throughout history. Today, however, surprise is increasingly critical to...
This monograph analyzes corps aviation brigade doctrine, and its supporting organization, equipment, and control arrangements, to determine if it enables the aviation brigade to conduct successful deep operations. Doctrine is the centerpiece of...
In the last ten years, the United States military has dealt with emerging counterinsurgencies in multiple operational theaters. To deal with the complex nature of counterinsurgency, organizational planning and operational processes increasingly...
This monograph analyzes whether dislocation theory is an appropriate military theory for the Interim Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) to use in developing its warfighting doctrine. It argues that the IBCT’s unique mission, force structure, strengths,...
In 1969, President Nixon started the now well-known "War on Drugs." The reason behind his "declaration" of war was the increasing national security threat posed by the transnational drug trafficking organizations. With the aim of making as much...
This monograph examines whether a planned operation in a campaign should be executed unchanged, modified, or canceled. A campaign is a progression of sequential or simultaneous operations designed to accomplish a strategic objective. A campaign...
The June 1993 version of FM 100-5, Operations, introduced the concept of battle command into United States Army Doctrine. The battle command concept emphasizes the art of command' and implies that battle command drives the requirements for command...