Principles of War

This activity will address module outcome 1. Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:
• Describe how the principles of war influence the outcome of conflicts.
While the application of the principles of war does not guarantee victory, they provide a solid structure to analyze some of the conflicts in which the U.S. Military has encountered throughout its history. The purpose of introducing the nine principles of war is to adopt a framework by which to analyze a conflict.
When you have completed your required readings for this module, you should be prepared to engage in the following discussion activity.
• After reading the principles of war, select a conventional conflict, not a counterinsurgency campaign, encountered by the U.S. military and describe how at least three of the principles influenced the outcome of the conflict.
• Describe how the violation of three principles affected the conflict’s outcome.
• In your post, describe how the outcomes of a conflict shaped the U.S. Military structure. What lessons did U.S. military leaders learned from the conflict? And how did these lessons help in the evolution of the force?
Please contribute at least one original post in response to the discussion question and post at least one substantive reply to fellow students or the instructor follow-up question.

Module 1: Module Notes: Securing Our Nation
Throughout U.S. history, the military has assumed many responsibilities in the security of the nation. These responsibilities have included security, reconstruction, peacekeeping operations, humanitarian missions, and global projection of force. To adapt, the composition of the military has evolved from an all-volunteer force during the American Revolution to a Conscription Army and back to an all volunteer military. Additionally, technology has influenced military tactics and organizational structure. Given these factors, we can argue that each conflict has generated new techniques and procedures to fight a war.
Critical Thinking
Throughout your journey in this program, you have had to rely on your critical thinking skills. And whether you know it or not, you use them every day in your personal and professional lives.
Although some of us cannot define critical thinking, this phrase has entered our professional and social language. The concept of critical thinking has become popular in several professional settings. The military is no exception. While critical thinking promotes the idea of improving our thinking skills, some may question the benefits of critical thinking. There is a misconception that critical thinking is about being critical, therefore, critical thinking should not be promoted within the military because it could lead to soldiers questioning orders.
However, is it possible that critical thinking has always been part of the profession of arms? “The greatest military leaders in ancient times, including Julius Caesar, Sun Tzu, Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Attila the Hun, Gaius Marius, and others, had one important thing in common: they were all superior critical thinkers” (Insight Assessment, n.d., n.p.). They applied the skills of analysis, interpretation, and evaluation to solve complex problems. Fast forward to today’s environment and one may argue that it is more complex than previous settings. This environment requires the application of the intellectual standards of clarity, accuracy, relevance, logicalness, breath, precision, significance, completeness, fairness, and depth (Critical Thinking Community, 2007).
Skills
Knowledge
1
Knowledge
Identification and recall of information
Comprehension
Application
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation

Principles of War
“In the age of enlightenment, when the systematic study of war began, military theory regarded warfare as mathematical and scientific. A general who knew mathematics and topography could conduct campaigns with geometrical precision and win wars without bloody battles” (Stewart, 2009, p. 6). Over time, military science adopted a theoretical frame that includes the use of art and science in the application of force. Today, military doctrine recognizes and applies nine principles of war.
The principles of war are included, in one way or another, in military doctrine. These nine principles include objective, offensive, maneuver, mass, economy of force, unity of command, security, surprise, and simplicity (Stewart, 2009). In order to further comprehend each principle, it is necessary to introduce a brief definition. Scroll over the graphic below to see the definition of each principle of war.
Counterinsurgency and Contingency Operations
Even though some wars or conflicts are better known than others, every conflict offers a unique opportunity to learn and evolve as a fighting force. “Although counterinsurgency and contingency operations can be quite diverse, they often share several underlying factors that permit them to be considered as an entity” (Birtle, 2009, p. 4). These conflicts often occur in underdeveloped regions with limited access to transportation and challenging environmental conditions. Furthermore, counterinsurgency forces include irregular fighters that apply guerrilla warfare tactics. Lastly, in counterinsurgency conflicts political factors influence operational and tactical operations (Birtle, 2009). Despite the limitation of fire power that counterinsurgency groups have, they represent a challenge to U.S. Forces.
Despite popular belief, the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are not the first time U.S. forces have been involved in a counterinsurgency conflict.
Small Wars
Throughout history, the U.S. military has encountered a series of “small wars”. The U.S. Marines, for example, participated as a police force in several small conflicts. After WWII the U.S. Marines recognized the need to develop a manual to fight these limited conflicts. “Small Wars seldom develop in accordance with any stereotyped procedure” (Corps, U.M., 1940, Section 1–5, p. 32).
The operations of small wars can be sectioned into five phases:
Phases in Operations of Small Wars interactive
• Introduction
• Phase I
• Phase II
• Phase III
• Phase IV
• Phase V
The operations of small wars can be sectioned into five phases based upon the Fleet Marine Force Reference Publication (FMFRP) 12-15, Small Wars Manual (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. Section 1, pages 5–9, U.S. Marine Corps PCN 140 121300 00.
References
• Birtle, A.J. (2009). S. Army Counterinsurgency and Contingency Operations Doctrine 1860–1941, Chapter 4, pages 108–139. (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved from http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/070/70-66-1/CMH_Pub_70-66-1.pdfhttp://www.history.army.mil/html/books/07 (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site.0/70-66-1/CMH_Pub_70-66-1.pdf (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site.
• Corps, U. M. (1940). Small Wars Manual. (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. Section I, pages 5–9. Retrieved from http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/FMFRP%2012-15%20%20Small%20Wars%20Manual.pdf http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/030/30-21/CMH_Pub_30-21.pdf
• Critical Thinking Community. (2007). Critical thinking in every domain of knowledge and belief. Foundations for critical thinking. (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. Retrieved from: http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/critical-thinking-in-every-domain-of-knowledge-and-belief/698
• Stewart, R.E. (Editor). (2009). (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. American Military History Volume I, Chapter 1, Theory and Practice of War, pages 5-9. (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved from http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/030/30-21/CMH_Pub_30-21.pdf
• Insight Assessment. (n.d.). Critical thinking and military leadership. (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. California Academic Press. Retrieved from: https://www.insightassessment.com/Uses/Client-Solutions/Critical-Thinking-and-Military-Leadership