This monograph analyzes the operational sustainment of Rommel's forces in North Africa. Rommel's operations are examined from his arrival in North Africa in February 1941 through his last offensive to destroy the British Eighth Army at El Alamein...
The exercise of operational leadership becomes increasingly difficult as technology makes the battlefield more lethal, as the pace of combat accelerates, and as combat forces become more joint and combined. U.S. Army senior level leadership...
This monograph examines whether the current U. S. Army Ranger School POI develops the necessary small unit leadership skills required to support the needs of the Light Infantry Divisions. The austere construct of the Light Infantry Division permits...
This study focuses on the operational level of war -- that level which links tactics to strategy. The study seeks to identify and define principles applicable to the operational level of war. If valid, those principles ought to guide and/or govern...
The purpose of the series is to provide officers with reasonably confirmed information from official and other reliable sources. This document was written by an officer who had spent two years fighting in the Middle East. It begins with an...
This monograph addresses the contribution made by the campaigns in the Western Desert to the evolution of the operational art by examining theory as reflected in history. It discusses the campaigns in the Western Desert of North Africa from...
During war leadership is the supreme test of a commander. Leaders at all levels attempt to accomplish their missions while preserving their men. The nature of offensive operations places an additional strain on leaders and entails a certain amount...
This study investigates the criteria an operational commander must examine to decide if he should conduct a voluntary retrograde operation. The Army's current doctrine addresses how to conduct a retrograde but not why. The aim of this study is to...
This study attempts to determine whether the theoretical concept of the culminating point is relevant today to planning and conducting campaigns or major operations. The study begins with an examination of the culminating point during the conduct...
Spencer, Napoleon; Morales, Ricardo; Felicioni, Louis; Christen, Lavon; Smith, Bruce
Thesis Statement: The Battle of Gazala fought from 26 May to 20 June 1942 was Rommel's greatest triumph in battle. Discussion: The Battle of Gazala, fought from 26 May-20June 1942, was Rommel's greatest triumph in battle. It is also considered the...
Since the end of the Cold War, the worldview is that the United States is presently the only superpower. The expectation, within the Department of Defense (DOD) and the world's other military institutions, is that this status will exist for the...
This study is a historical analysis to determine why Rommel's tactical success on the battlefield could not accomplish strategic objectives in North Africa. Rommel's operations are reviewed from his arrival in North Africa in February 1941 through...
As the military scrutinizes and downsizes training budgets, the number of simulations for training, modeling, research, and education in the U.S. military continues to expand. The military endeavors to integrate these simulations into the military...
The tension between the operational functions, maneuver and sustainment, produces an interesting dynamic. As much as some may insist, maneuver at the operational level of war cannot be completely addressed without a thorough discussion of...
Tactical generalship is an obscure and often misunderstood concept. It is mistakenly thought of as being synonymous with senior level leadership of general officers. However, in wartime, our general officers are evaluated on their generalship more...
The purpose of these Campaign Studies is to provide officers with reasonably confirmed information from official and other reliable sources. Studies were generated by the Military Intelligence Service.
Central to the design and conduct of campaigns and major operations is the concept of gravity. However, a thorough understanding of this concept seems to be lacking within the U.S. Army. While some of this misunderstanding exists because of the...
Pickett, Mark A.; Pickett, Christopher W.; Brewer, Sean M.; Swaine, David N. ;Janos, Gerv Ai
Haines Competition Finalist Papers, Class 55 Nonresident Sergeants Major Course U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Ft. Bliss, Texas.
When GEN Ralph E. Haines established the Sergeants Major Academy in 1972 he intended it to be the capstone of the...
Pickett, Christopher W.
Pickett, Mark A.
Brewer, Sean M.
Swaine, David N.
Gervai, Janos
Thesis Statement: The initial success of the Allied campaign in Normandy was the result of a unified command and the ability for the combatant commanders engaged on the ground to freely maneuver his force.
Discussion: The ability for the Allies...
U.S. tactical units are organized with weapon systems of varying mobility, firepower, and protection characteristics that must be combined to develop combat power. Differences among these capabilities are most apparent in units organized with armor...