This monograph discusses the importance of the decisive point in the design and conduct of campaigns and major operations. It examines the validity of the theoretical presentations of Jomini and Clausewitz concerning the subject matter in respect...
This monograph examines the development of a set of criteria that can be utilized to validate observations and lessons learned derived from tactical training exercises. The paper is based on the premise that there exist within these observations...
This monograph examines the concept "center of gravity" as applied by coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm. Center of gravity is an integral part of operational art and figures prominently in current U.S. doctrine. It begins by tracing...
'Operational IPB' describes U.S. Army doctrine for the precombat intelligence estimate process employed at the operational level of war. Its methodology is contained in an appendix to a tactical field manual, FM 34-130, Intelligence Preparation of...
This thesis identifies the operational and strategic centers of gravity of United Nations Operations, Somalia II (UNOSOM II). The research demonstrates that UNOSOM II failed to correctly identify its own strategic center of gravity. This failure...
United States. Army. Engineer Center and Fort Leonard Wood.
The Guidon came into being as a weekly publication in 1966 under the title Fort Leonard Wood Guidon. Between 1966 and 1987 the title was simplified to Guidon before becoming Essayons in 1988. The name reverted back to Guidon in 1999. It has been...
The 1993 version of FN4 100-5, Operations, formally added the theoretical term of decisive points to our professional warfighting lexicon without providing a useful methodology for their identification. This monograph undertakes a study of decisive...
In 1986, the US Army introduced Carl von Clausewitz's concept of center of gravity in Field Manual (FM) 100-5, Operations, and defined it as the ""hub of all power and movement upon which everything depends."" The manual explicitly stated that the...
An examination of Joint Pub (JP) 5-00.1, Joint Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Campaign Planning, reveals two major disconnects. The publication asserts that the essence of operational art lies in protecting and maintaining the integrity of...
This monograph examines the concept of pivots of maneuver from the operational perspective. Through an examination of the theories of Jomini, Clausewitz, Triandafillov, Fuller, and Tukhachevskiy five criteria are distilled that form the framework...
This monograph examines Jomini's theoretical components of a theater of operations, including decisive points, lines of operations, pivots of maneuver, and pivots of operations, to determine their contemporary significance to operational design....
This monograph looks at operational art practiced by an outnumbered force. Specifically, the research question is: How have outnumbered armies designed and executed successful campaigns? Simply stated, this study looks at how outnumbered forces...
This study examines the main effort concept to determine if it is a necessary element for the design of a campaign plan. Current joint operational doctrine fails to address the main effort concept. This study examines service tactical doctrine,...
The 1986 edition of Field Manual (FM) 100-5, Operations, introduced a theoretical basis to AirLand Battle, the U.S. Army's basic fighting doctrine. One of the new concepts introduced into the doctrine was 'center of gravity.' The manual indicated...
The Army divides war into three levels -- strategy, operational art, and tactics. Each level involves different types of activities, but opinions vary on how to differentiate among them. The debate continues even though seven years have passed...
Since 1989, the US Army has taken part in many operations that are something other than war. Peacekeeping or Stability and Support Operations (SASO) have abounded for U.S. Army forces. In each operation, tactical commanders used U.S. Army doctrine...
This thesis investigates ways to contend with Carl von Clausewitz's center of gravity concept. It describes the concept's importance and the alarming degree of confusion regarding its application. The thesis describes the use of knowledge...