The problem is, valid but incompatible service theories of operational warfighting inhibit rather than promote jointness. One cause of this problem is the joint definition of the center of gravity, which is vague and ineffective. This monograph...
In order to facilitate U. S. national security strategy, the U. S. Military has a renewed focus on conducting Stability Operations. These complex operations often take place over long periods and involve various different, but interrelated tasks....
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...
Asymmetry is a United States Army doctrinal term. Research indicates that soldiers have a poor appreciation of asymmetry. The concept is often overused or just misused altogether. The cause for this is likely the doctrine itself. The primary Army...
The attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, originating from Afghanistan, and the earthquake in January 2010 that devastated Haiti illustrate the different dangers that weak and failed states represent to the international...
The problems in Afghanistan are not simple and there is no single solution. Indeed, the problems in Afghanistan are not limited to Afghanistan. Instead, the problems extend to all of Afghanistan's immediate neighbors as well as, among others, the...
The Global War on Terror is an ideological war being fought in the environment indicative of fourth generation warfare. Propaganda bypasses traditional defenses and strikes right at the center of gravity - popular support. In a modern war of...
The current revolution in military affairs includes a confluence of changes that are forcing the US military to reexamine its methods of warfare. Significant advancements in informational technologies and precision weapons are providing an...
This monograph finds that the US heavy brigade is inadequately prepared in peacetime to perform counter-reconnaissance against the potential adversaries it may face on the modern battlefield. Winning the fight for information has been essential to...
This monograph addresses whether current doctrine adequately prepares armor and mechanized infantry forces to successfully conduct the final assault of a prepared position. Offensive operations culminate with actions on the objective, yet...
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 ongoing military operations in Afghanistan underscore the importance of regional stability in Central and South Asia. While much of our attention remains focused on Afghanistan, the unstable nature of Pakistan creates a problematic scenario for...
This monograph examines the question is Clausewitz' theoretical concept of center of gravity the antithesis of a systems approach to warfare. The nature of conflict has changed since the age of Clausewitz, and a theoretical concept designed to...
As the U.S. Army embraces AirLand Battle doctrine, the tactical counterattack becomes increasingly significant as a key component of a defensive-offensive. This study examines the theoretical relevance of the counterattack by Carl von Clausewitz,...
This monograph examines the execution of the Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP) by operational forces and offers a methodology to better its execution. This study asserts that CERP is a necessary and appropriate program for operational...
The increasing volume and manner of violent deaths in Mexico nearly doubled in 2009 to just over seven thousand. Mexico appears capable of devolving into a failed state status where an insurgency threat could potentially thrive. These indices...
This monograph determines the utility of the “reconnaissance-pull” concept for division commanders. Although the term, “recon-pull” is becoming widely used by many Army leaders, analysis proves that the concept is rarely applied in...
The challenge to an American battalion commander is clear. The issue is how to stop a Soviet regiment moving at high speed and still live to fight another day. This monograph argues that the disruption of troop control is the key for defeating a...
Since the end of the Cold War, growing state and global instability, particularly in undergoverned regions of the world, has led to increasing requests from ambassadors and combatant commanders for civil affairs forces to conduct missions in...
The US will not always fight a cooperative enemy in urban operations. The Panamanian Defense Forces and Haitian military surrendered without significant fighting and bloodshed. Urban fighting against a more determined opponent, such as the clans of...