Military strategy
Overview
Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired strategic goals. Derived from the Greek word 'strategos', the term strategy, when it appeared in use during the 18th century, was seen in its narrow sense as the "art of the general", or "'the art of arrangement" of troops. Military strategy deals with the planning and conduct of campaigns, the movement and disposition of forces, and the deception of the enemy.
Historical Development
The history of military strategy has evolved over time from the dawn of warfare through modern times. In the earliest days of human civilization, strategy was often thought of in terms of the control of key geographic locations, like hills, passes, and rivers. As civilizations grew and technology advanced, military strategy evolved to incorporate complex tactical maneuvers and the use of new technologies.
Principles of Military Strategy
Military strategy is based on several principles that guide the planning and execution of military operations. These principles include objective, offensive, mass, economy of force, maneuver, unity of command, security, surprise, and simplicity.
Objective
The principle of objective states that every military operation must be directed towards a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable objective. The ultimate military purpose of war is the destruction of the enemy's ability to fight and will to fight.
Offensive
The principle of offensive asserts that to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative, offensive action is the most effective and decisive way. It allows commanders to dictate the terms of battle and to respond effectively to changing circumstances.
Mass
The principle of mass involves concentrating combat power at the decisive place and time. Synchronizing all the elements of combat power where they will have decisive effect on an enemy force in a short period of time is to achieve mass. Massing effects, rather than concentrating forces, can enable numerically inferior forces to achieve decisive results, while limiting exposure to enemy fire.
Economy of Force
Economy of force is the allocation of minimum essential combat power to secondary efforts. It is the judicious employment and distribution of forces towards the desired end state. No part of the force should ever be left without purpose. The allocation of available combat power to such tasks as limited attacks, defense, delays, deception, or even retrograde operations is measured in order to achieve mass elsewhere.
Maneuver
Maneuver is the movement of forces in relation to the enemy to gain positional advantage. Effective maneuver keeps the enemy off balance and protects the force. It is used to exploit successes, to preserve freedom of action, and to reduce vulnerability. It continually poses new problems for the enemy by rendering his actions ineffective, eventually leading to defeat.
Unity of Command
Unity of command ensures unity of effort under one responsible commander for every objective. Unity of command is essential for the synchronization and coordination of all elements of the combined arms team. All efforts should be directed and coordinated towards a common objective.
Security
Security is the prevention of surprise through measures for self-protection. It is achieved by measures that protect friendly forces and resources and by continuous reconnaissance and security operations. It deprives the enemy of surprise and allows commanders to shift forces to meet emerging threats.
Surprise
Surprise is the strike at a time or place or in a manner for which the enemy is unprepared. Surprise can decisively shift the balance of combat power. By seeking surprise, forces can achieve success well out of proportion to the effort expended.
Simplicity
Simplicity relates to the clear, concise orders to ensure thorough understanding. Everything in war is very simple, but the simplest thing is difficult. To the uninitiated, military operations are not difficult. Simplicity contributes to successful operations. Simple plans and clear, concise orders minimize misunderstanding and confusion.
Modern Military Strategy
Modern military strategy has evolved to incorporate new technologies and tactics. It now includes the use of cyber warfare, space warfare, and information warfare, which can disrupt the enemy's ability to communicate and acquire information.
