THE ROLE AND USE OF MILITARY HISTORY

Integrate Historical Awareness and Critical Thinking Skills Derived from

Military History Methodologies into the Training and Education of Self

And Subordinate Leaders

What is Military History?

The record of all activities of all armed forces (including armies, navies, and air forces) in war and peace.

WHY DO YOU STUDY MILITARY HISTORY?

HOW DO YOU STUDY MILITARY HISTORY?

VERY CAREFULLY AND METHODICALLY

Activities Included in the Study of Military History

Battles & Campaigns

Strategy & Tactics Doctrine & Training Organizations

Logistics Military & Society Weapons &

Technology Military Leaders

STUDY CAUSE AND EFFECT

TO DIRECT AND CONTROL FUTURE EVENTS

STUDY: IN WIDTH

OBSERVE EVENTS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO

OBSERVE CHANGE

STUDY: IN DEPTH

STUDY IN ENOUGH DETAIL TO GET BEHIND ANY

GENERALIZATIONS

Using Military History

Learn from past experience

Understand military concepts

Study lives of soldiers in the past

Understand doctrinal evolution

Broaden knowledge of military subjects

Understand leadership issues

Learn about strategy & tactics

STUDY: IN CONTEXT

ARMIES REFLECT BOTH THEIR ERA AND THEIR SOCIETY

“I am convinced that much more emphasis should be

placed on history. The purpose of history is to learn

how human beings react when exposed to the danger of

wounds or death...” General George S. Patton, Jr.

“Nothing is done in war, except by calculation. Every

enterprise should be conducted according to a

system. Chance alone can never bring success.”

Napoleon

“A man’s greatest pleasure is to defeat his enemies, to drive them before him,

to take from them that which they possessed, to see those whom they

cherished in tears, to ride their horses, to hold their wives. I forbid you to show mercy to my enemies. Leave

nothing but uninhabited ruins, neither a cat nor a dog.”

Genghis Khan

HISTORY SHARPENS JUDGMENT

Critical Thinking Skills-Based on Study of Operational

Military History

HISTORY IMPROVES PERCEPTION

Critical Thinking Skills-Based on Study of Institutional

Military History

HISTORY BROADENS PERSPECTIVESCritical Thinking Skills-

Based on Study of Biographical Military History

Misusing Military History

History provides understanding, not proof.

History provides insight, not analogy.

METHODOLOGIES

The Ten Threads of Continuity.

Battle Analysis.

TEN THREADS OF CONTINUITY

19TH CENTURY

1800----1850-----1899 Military Theory & Doctrine -----+------------------------------------------> Military Professionalism----------+------------------------------------------> Generalship-------------------------+------------------------------------------> Strategy------------------------------+------------------------------------------> Tactics-------------------------------+------------------------------------------> Logistics-----------------------------+------------------------------------------> Technology--------------------------+-----------------------------------------> Political Factors---------------------+-----------------------------------------> Social Factors------------------------+-----------------------------------------> Economic Factors-------------------+----------------------------------------->

Military Theory & Doctrine Ideas about War. Doctrine = Generally accepted body of

practices that govern Organization, Training, and Fighting.

Military Theorists: Those who THINK deeply about war and INFLUENCE others. They SEEK solutions, CREATE frameworks & ADVANCE new concepts.

Military Doctrine PROVIDES THE BRIDGE BETWEEN

THE CONCEPT OR IDEA AND THE ACTUAL APPLICATION OF THE IDEA

Military Professionalism Attitude or state of mind. Military professional is an expert in the

management of violence. Functions of the professional army include

organizing, equipping, training, planning and directing forces, in and out of combat.

Military Professionalism– Military Professionals share a body of

specialized knowledge. – The study of Military History is essential to

Military Professionalism.– Defined in Samuel Huntington’s The Soldier

and the State. Expertise: Responsibility: Corporateness :

Generalship Art of command high levels. Functions include Forming, Organizing,

Equipping, and Training armies and/or major portions of them.

Involves the detailed Strategical, Tactical and Logistical planning to insure success of the mission. Entails Leadership and Management.

Strategy Preparation for and the waging of war. Dynamic in nature and has evolved with the

complexities of weapon technology. Grand Strategy: Coalition level National Strategy: Similar to Grand Military Strategy: Derived from National.

Tactics The Preparation and actual conduct of

Combat on the battlefield. The employment of units in combat , the

ordered arrangement and maneuver of units in relation to each other to utilize their full potential.

Close connection with Technology, Logistics and Strategy.

Logistics & Administration Supply, Transportation, Evacuation and

Hospitalization, Service and Personnel Management.

Relationship between the state’s Economic capacity and its capability for supporting military forces.

In the last century has developed into one of the dominant factors of warfare.

Technology The Application of science to war. Accounts for new weapons and the entire

range of new equipment. The Industrial Revolution caused whole

chains of technological advances in the fields of weapons, transportation, communication, construction and medicine.

Political Factors Characteristic elements or actions of

governments that affect warfare. Provide the forces and trends that shape

warfare and the goals for which wars are fought.

Difficult to distinguish the military objective from the political goal. Often political goals drive military goals.

Social Factors Human relationships that affect warfare are

social factors. Includes concepts, such as, popular

attitudes, revolution, militarism, psychological warfare, amd combat psychology.

Combatants have aimed at inflicting Total War on a nation’s people.

Economic Factors Elements that affect warfare, such as,

Production, Distribution, and Consumption of the resources of the state.

Economic warfare possible through blockade.

Different types of economies affect warfare.

Interrelationship of Factors Political, Social and Economic Factors are

all interrelated. They are so complex that studying each one

separately is impossible. These forces provide the foundation of

national power.

OUR ONLY VERIFIED DATA ON COMBAT COMES FROM HISTORY.

TIDY SOLUTIONS TO BATTLE ON COMPUTER

PRINTOUTS IS A DELUSION- HISTORICALLY

ALL WARS WERE VERY UNTIDY.

MILITARY HISTORY PROVIDES THE ARMY’S

INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY.

MILITARY HISTORY PROVIDES A GUIDE TO

HOW TROOPS BEHAVE IN BATTLE.

THE PRINCIPLES OF WAR PROVIDE A SENSE OF

DIRECTION.

MILITARY HISTORY REVEALS THE PATTERNS,

TRENDS & RELATIONSHIPS NECESSARY FOR THE

DEVELOPMENT OF DOCTRINE.

DOCTRINE PROVIDES THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE

CONCEPT OR THEORY AND THE APPLICATION OF

THAT THEORY.

THE ROLE OF MILITARY HISTORY IS TO PROVIDE A METHOD TO LOOK BACK

IN ORDER TO LOOK AHEAD.

BATTLEANALYSIS

TASKIntegrate Historical Awareness and Critical Thinking Skills Derived from Military History Methodologies

into the Training and Education of Self and Subordinate Leaders.

TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Apply knowledge of military history and battle analysis to the professional development of self and

subordinate leaders.

BATTLE ANALYSIS

Role and Use

LTG George S. Patton, Jr.:

“To be a successful soldier, you must

know history.”

Role and Use

Learn from past experience

Understand military concepts

Study lives of soldiers in the past

Understand doctrinal evolution

Broaden knowledge of military subjects

Understand leadership issues

Learn about strategy & tactics

Using Military History

Basic Battle Analysis

Military History and theConduct of Battle

Basic Battle Analysis

What is Battle Analysis?

A method used by the U.S. Army to provide a systematic approach to the study of battles, campaigns, and other operations.

Basic Battle Analysis

Define the subject. Set the stage. Describe the action. Draw lessons and insights.

Battle Analysis Steps

Basic Battle Analysis

Battle Analysis:

Step 1 -- Define the Subject

Basic Battle Analysis

Pick a subject appropriate to the level of operations of interest.

Select a topic related to the types of lessons desired.

Battle Analysis:Step 1--Define the Subject(what, where, when, who)

Basic Battle Analysis

Quantity and type of sources (books, articles, and other).

Quality of sources (content, bias, and intent).

Battle Analysis:Step 1--Define the Subject

(determine sources)

BATTLE ANALYSISMETHODOLOGY

STEP IEVALUATE THE HISTORICAL RESOURCES

Determine the research sources

Evaluate the research sources

Basic Battle Analysis

Battle Analysis:

Step 2 -- Set the Stage

Basic Battle Analysis

Type of conflict. Objectives of the principal antagonists. Military systems. Previous experience of forces.

Battle Analysis:Step 2--Set the Stage--

Strategic Factors

Basic Battle Analysis

Context Objectives Additional factors (alliances, tactics,

doctrine, and personalities)

Battle Analysis:Step 2--Set the Stage--

Operational Setting

Basic Battle Analysis

Alternatives Area of Operations Weather Terrain

Battle Analysis:Step 2--Set the Stage--

Tactical Situation

Basic Battle Analysis

Battle Analysis:Step 2--Set the Stage--

Compare Forces•Size & composition•Technology•Logistics•C3

•Intelligence•Doctrine & training•Condition & morale•Leadership

Basic Battle Analysis

State missions of opposing forces Describe initial disposition of forces Describe opening moves Detail major phases State outcome

Battle Analysis:Step 3--Describe the Action

Basic Battle Analysis

Why did events turn out the way they did?

What is relevant about this study to current operations?

Battle Analysis:Step 4--Draw Lessons & Insights

Basic Battle Analysis

Who won? Who lost? What were the constants that

affected the outcome?

Battle Analysis:Step 4--Draw Lessons & Insights--

Cause & Effect

Basic Battle Analysis

Principles of War Tenets of Airland Operations Battlefield Operating Systems

Battle Analysis:Step 4--Draw Lessons & Insights--

Military Lessons

Principles of War

Objective Offensive Mass Economy of Force Maneuver

Unity of Command Surprise Security Simplicity

Dynamics of Combat Power

MANEUVER FIREPOWER PROTECTION LEADERSHIP INFORMATION