Throughout the history of warfare, there have been periods when technological developments have dramatically; albeit temporarily, affected the balance between firepower and maneuver on the tactical battlefield. Recent advances in information age...
Beginning in the Korea War, through Vietnam and continuing with the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, US forces have been involved in combat typified by close, sharp actions - often without the doctrinally prescribed firepower to support the...
American military doctrine and professional literature in the past decade have stressed maneuver warfare and the operational level of war. This monograph traces the evolution of maneuver theory and its conceptual opposite, firepower theory, and...
This study analyzes the concepts of dominant maneuver and precision engagement at the operational level of war as defined in Joint Vision 2020. The analysis begins by establishing the relationship between today’s geostrategic environment,...
This monograph explores the origins of the principle of mass and its components: numerical strength, combat power and the decisive point. It concludes that the Napoleonic legacy of the principle of mass has not kept pace with modern battlefield...
This study is a historical analysis of how encirclement operations have been and still are important offensive operations. These operations need to be given priority in planning and execution by the United States Military. Encirclement operations...
Throughout the history of warfare, there have been periods when technological developments have dramatically affected the balance between firepower and maneuver on the battlefield. When the new technology enhanced the effectiveness of firepower,...
This monograph analyzes whether the heavy corps should fight the light infantry division (LID) as a pure force in a mid-high intensity conflict (M/HIC). The monograph examines current doctrine from FM 100-5 down to division-level manuals. While...
This study examines the relationship of current U.S. Field Artillery Doctrine to the concept of maneuver warfare. The impetus for the work is the generally poor results of fire support at the National Training Center (NTC). The purpose is to...
This monograph approached Lieutenant General James M. Gavin as a military theorist and explored his influence as the Army transitioned from World War II to the Cold War. Gavin's theory of future warfare required an army with capability in atomic...
As the 21st Century dawns, warfare is in the midst of revolutionary change. Information Age warfare characterized by knowledge, speed, and precision is slowly supplanting Industrial Age war and its reliance on mass. The advent of precision...
Cursory study of war gaming quickly reveals that one of its central problems is the conflict between the requirement of realism in play and the need for rapid and simple assessment techniques. This thesis investigates war gaming methodologies with...
This monograph examines the current U.S. doctrine regarding the role of firepower at the operational level. It reviews the most recent doctrinal guidance on this element of combat power and the historical underpinnings of this doctrine in the works...
The world in 1999 is a rapidly changing place. Regional conflict based on ethnic, religious, cultural and economic differences is increasing because of a lack of superpower containment. The number of regional powers involved in these conflicts and...
This monograph examines doctrine for joint operations to determine if it helps speed planning and coordination for the employment of operational fires. The Joint Force Commander is experiencing the problem of centrally controlling operational fires...
This monograph proposes that one of the Army's primary doctrinal concepts, combat power, requires modification to keep pace with the changing environment of conflict. It argues that the Army's combat power model, defined as the combined effects of...
This monograph examines the key determinants necessary for the successful forced entry seizure of an airfield. The importance of contingency operations is paramount to the United States military as it transitions from "forward defense" to "CONUS...
This monograph discusses some of the challenges which may exist to the delivery of operational level fires on a mid to high intensity AirLand Battle-Future (ALBF) battlefield. The U.S. Army's ALBF concept depends heavily on fires at the operational...
This monograph discusses the question, does the heavy division require an organic light force battalion to capitalize on the vertical or air dimension of the battlefield? The conclusions are that the air dimension is the critical third tier of...
This study tests the hypothesis that, at the operational level, there are essential elements of operational transition that the commander may use as a guide to determine the actions that must be taken to pursue the positive aim, the...