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
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