Academic Buckshot
I remember being told about research that said that the US squad is basically on par with forces like Afghan insurgents. At first I was taken aback. Upon further clarification, the equality was not concerned with technical capability, but rather a cognitive one. Basically, if you can out think your…
Read MoreThe After Action Review (AAR) – A Primer
After Action Reviews – or AAR’s. I see them a lot on blogs and forums. People post their “AAR” of whatever product or experience they came in contact with. You typically see AAR’s on a tactical hard or soft goods and even pistol or rifle courses. This is fairly appropriate…
Read MoreLeadership Styles: Calling warriors to do their best
There is no single, magical solution in leadership style. The cliché of “one size” does not and will not fit all situations. For this reason it is best if we are aware of the various leadership styles; the situations in which each is best suited; and the limitations of each…
Read MorePrinciples of War: Tactical guidance for small unit leaders
The brilliance of Carl von Clausewitz’s essay Principles of War (1812) is that his words are as relevant today as they were 200 years ago. This work places Clausewitz, along with Sun Tzu, as one of the most quoted military philosophers of all time. Yet Clausewitz was not the only…
Read MoreMission Planning: In Seconds, Minutes and Hours
Let’s begin by separating planning from decision-making. Though clearly related and even intertwined, it helps to think of these as two distinct processes. Planning can be found in Troop Leading Procedure (TLP) and its parallel build, the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP). Decision-making is also very much a part of these…
Read MoreOperational Warfighters: An Intro to the Modern Battle Staff
Contemporary battle staffs trace their lineage to Napoleon Bonaparte’s Grand Army. This staff concept is employed in a multitude of variations by every major military today. Battle staff officers are warfighters at the operational-level of conflict. They work on behalf of the commanding officer and employ a myriad of technical…
Read MoreBattle Rattle Radio: Commanders Intent
This article was originally published on odjournal.com (Olive Drab: the journal of tactics) and has been transferred here with permission.
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