War, as defined by Webster’s dictionary is “the waging of armed conflict
against an enemy”. In two of the larger military campaigns in recent
United States history, Vietnam and Iraq, the prolonging of the “armed conflict”
was not the...
The purpose of this essay is to compare and contrast U.S. counterinsurgency (COIN) operations in two wars: the Philippine Insurrection and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, it will identify some of the critical factors that led to successes and...
American soldiers have faced many different cultures in their battles. Sometimes the understandings of these cultures have affected the outcome of a battle. The definition of culture according to the dictionary is “Culture (from the Latin cultura...
During his May 2003 to July 2004 deployment in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Major George H. Sarabia served as a regimental S4, then XO of 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Based in the heavily Shi'ite Baghdad slum of Sadr City,...
In July 2003, Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Sullivan deployed to Afghanistan as the executive officer of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment and served in this capacity throughout his nine-month tour operating mostly in the country's Paktika...
With the advent of Field Manual (FM) 3-24, Counterinsurgency, a debate has arisen concerning the manual's origins and its applicability to today's insurgencies. Critics, such as Colonel Gian Gentile, claim that the manual is overly influenced by...
The Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander for 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment - part of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division - in Iraq from May through August 2003, Major Esli Pitts witnessed "the initial exuberance of the Iraqis when...
This essay is a compare and contrast mainly focused on Marine tactics used in both the failed attempt to take Fallujah, Iraq in April, 2004 and the successful attempt to take Fallujah, Iraq in November, 2004. The two components of the Marine’s...
Throughout history and currently today, the United States has had to practice the policy of chastisement to defeat insurgents and the policy of attraction to win over the loyalty of the local populace. American forces must constantly change...
The United States military reigns supreme throughout the world, yet we are vulnerable to a non-state terrorist group, which relies on an ancient art of war against us. Our enemies today realize they cannot win pitched battles against us, so they...
This paper will cover my experiences during my tenure as a First Sergeant in B Company 2-6 Infantry, 1st Armored Division. I will discuss the Company’s actions during my arrival, pre-deployment training and deployment of the unit. I will cover,...
The U.S. Army Special Forces has used firebases to project a forward presence since the beginning of the Vietnam War. It has proven one of the best ways to get a small element of Special Forces into an area and begin to establish an American...
The complex and ambiguous nature of today's contemporary operational environment requires leaders of extraordinary skill and ability. Regardless of where the U.S. military conducts operations, the operational environment will often include large...
From August 2004 through March 2005 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Major Steve Petzold served as a team leader with Echo Company, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion – his second deployment to Afghanistan. In this interview, he discusses his...
From September 2005 through March 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Major Steve Petzold served as a detachment commander with Charlie Company, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion, based in Balad. In this interview, he discusses the challenge of...
The Rhodesian African Rifles overcame profoundly divisive racial and tribal differences among its members because a transcendent "regimental culture" superseded the disparate cultures of its individual soldiers and officers. The RAR's culture grew...
Despite international efforts to prevent conflict in the Republic of Macedonia after the downfall of SFR Yugoslavia, in 2001 the country faced its greatest challenge since its independence. An insurgency movement that started as a spillover from...
The purpose of this monograph is to attempt to determine who is responsible for establishment and enforcement of standards that the civilian members of PRTs must accomplish in training before they deploy overseas. The Provincial Reconstruction...
This thesis contends the debate on whether to embrace a population-centric or enemy-centric counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan detracts focus from building a balanced approach, customized for the human and political landscape in each area of...
In this interview, MAJ Scott Sentell, US Army, talks about his deployment to Iraq as the Command of the Alpha Company 1-8 CAV in 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. MAJ Sentell discusses his personal experience with pre-deployment training...