This monograph addresses the dynamics of the culminating point and its impact on the modern battlefield. It does so by first establishing a theoretical framework for operational culmination and then examining the theory as reflected in recent...
This monograph examines Carl von Clausewitz's theoretical concept of the defensive culminating point and the ability of Army doctrine and its analysis system--Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield--to determine an enemy's courses of action...
This monograph examines the usefulness of defensive culmination to the operational level planner. A working definition of the theoretical concept is advanced and then examined against the backdrops of historical campaigns, current doctrine, and...
U.S. Army Field Manual 100-5, Operations (FM 100-5), the keystone warfighting manual, lists the culminating point as one of the three key concepts of operational design. It also states that the concept is applicable at the strategic, operational...
The purpose of this monograph is to determine how operational pauses can be best sequenced in order to minimize the effects of culmination on the AirLand Battle battlefield. This study focuses at the operational level and joint operations. My...
Operational pauses are part of campaign design and remain relevant in 21st century expeditionary warfare. The United States should maintain the military in a subordinate role as only one element of national power. Where this is infeasible, use of...
This monograph examines the definition of the term culmination for the tactical defense as defined by the 1993 edition of FM100-5, OPERATIONS. The term entered US Army doctrine in the 1986 edition of FM 100-5 and was defined as a concept for an...
This monograph is a theoretical and historical discussion of the culminating point. Initially, the author discusses the theoretical contributions that Clausewitz, Jomini, and Tukhachevskiy have had on the subject. Departing from this theoretical...
This monograph addresses the question: What are the essential elements of operational design and commander's guidance that a campaign planner needs to produce an integrated operational concept for a joint campaign plan? While joint doctrine...
This monograph examines the U.S. military operations in Beirut, Lebanon 1982-1983 and Somalia 1993 in the context of Clausewitz's theory of a culminating point of victory. The dynamics of peace operations present a unique challenge to military...
One of German General Carl Von Clausewitz's key concepts is culmination. His primary work On War describes culmination for the attacker as the point beyond which he can no longer continue his attack and risks destruction from a counterattack. For...
FM 100-5 cites the theoretical concept of the culminating point as one of the essential considerations in campaign design. In his work On War, Clausewitz introduced this concept to the lexicon of operational theory. In doing so he advised that even...
The research revealed that current Army doctrine on operational reach is inadequate. One of the characteristics of sound doctrine found in TRADOC Regulation 25-36 is "Concise doctrine provides a comprehensive body of thought..." However, the...
The concept of the culminating point has great utility for the tactical commander. It is one of three concepts fundamental to the design and execution of major operations. Our doctrine addresses the culminating point in operational terms but its...
The 1993 version of FM 100-5 advertises itself as concentrating on the operational level of war. It defines several terms that are used in operational art, but inadequately explains how they relate to one another. The terms and definitions...
This monograph examines the nature of operational art during the third and final phase of the Chinese Civil War, 1945-1949. During this period Mao Tse-Tung and the Red Army fought Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist Army for the military and...
The stalemate in World War I created the need for a solution to escape this resource intense form of warfare. Following five unsuccessful German offenses in early 1918, the Germans found themselves in a solely defensive scenario conducting...
This monograph examines the question can modern metaphors, based on late twentieth century nonlinear scientific thought, better explain concepts described by Clausewitz, using early nineteenth century linear scientific thought. Clausewitz...
Does the Department of Defense's strategic mobility program meet the needs of operational commanders? More importantly, what challenges do operational commanders face because of the inability to project certain capabilities? This monograph argues...
The purpose of this monograph is to recommend the retention, modification, or abandonment of certain concepts of the current elements of operational design based on their continued validity within the contemporary operational environment. Military...