AP 500(L) - Course Introduction/Value of Strategy

OVERVIEW: “Airpower” refers to the air, space, and cyber assets that are available to military leaders for use in conflicts. This course is designed to examine how Airpower can effectively contribute to a nation’s security, as well as how it has been successfully employed in past conflicts and how it might influence future wars. This day’s lectures begin by introducing students to the key concepts and framework of the course. After the course director’s introduction, Dr. Everett Dolman of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies will discuss the utility of strategy as a theoretical construct. While previous ACSC courses have examined strategy as an abstract concept, Dr. Dolman will offer practical guidance for the creation and employment of strategy, with an emphasis upon Airpower utility.

NO SOBs.

Lecture Notes:

1)      Definitions  a)        Simplistic: “Matching means to ends.”

 b)      Jomini: “The art of making war on a map.”

 c)       Clausewitz: “Use of engagements for the object of war.”

 2)      Pure Strategy

 a)       “…a plan for continuing advantage.”

 b)      Definition problem: it limits outcome.  Need to continually seek strategy; never finding it.

 c)       Strategy is not Big Tactics.  Strategy is purpose-driven; tactics are goal-driven

 d)      The strategist manipulates the ways, means and provides the ends within which tactics operates

 e)       Strategy is about relationships, concerned with relative capacities or power

 3)      Utility vs. Value

 a)       Tactician is utility focused.  Maximizes choices within the rules, constraints, means and ways

 b)      Strategist is value focused.  Manipulates the rules, constraints, means, and ways that shape tactics.

 c)       “Hence the sage tactician may seek victory without battle as the highest proof of skill (Sun Tzu), but the pure strategist must also be prepared to seek battle without victory (Clausewitz).

 4)      The End of Victory

 a)       Victory is a tactical goal; the achievement of victory is the apex of tactical skill.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level2lfo1"> b)      An end-state is a status quo.  There are no meaningful end-states in strategy

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level2lfo1"> c)       The tactician seeks culmination; the strategist seeks continuation…on favorable terms.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level2lfo1"> d)      Victory is the measure of tactical success; it is but one means to strategic success.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo1"> 5)       Purpose  of Military Power

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level2lfo1"> a)       Grand Strategy (national power)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level2lfo1"> b)      National Interest: Acquire and maintain the security and welfare of the population

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level3lfo1"> i)       Instruments of national power: Diplomatic, economic, information

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level3lfo1"> ii)      Military Strategy (military power)

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level4lfo1"> (1)     Purpose: Be prepared, when called on by legitimate authority, to maximize violence within the constraints placed upon it.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level4lfo1"> (2)     Operations: Control the medium to maximize friendly use; contest medium to minimize enemy operations

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.25in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level5lfo1"> (a)     Land power—Seize and hold territory; contest air above and coastal areas adjacent

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.25in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level5lfo1"> (b)     Sea power—Gain control/command of SLOCs; contest air above and coastal areas

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.25in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level5lfo1"> (c)     Airpower – Gain command of the air/local air dominance; contest adjacent land/sea/space

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.25in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level5lfo1"> (d)     Space power – Gain command of space; contest access through global strike

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.25in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level5lfo1"> (e)     Cyber?

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level4lfo1"> (3)     Tactics: nation-building, disaster relief, bombing, humanitarian aid, interdiction, port security

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo1"> 6)      Theory and Reality: Which is first?

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level2lfo1"> a)       How did Clausewitz deal with it?

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level3lfo1"> i)       War is a duel, writ large.  One side wants to make the other side do something they don’t want to do.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level3lfo1"> ii)      War has never been absolute, as his theories predicted.  Instead, political intercourse based on the value each side places on winning or losing.

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level2lfo1"> b)      Real world examples

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level3lfo1"> i)       Alcoholics Anonymous – used to tell them “you’re cured” but recidivism rate was high.  Now, they tell them it is a continual battle.  Will never win, always an alcoholic

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level3lfo1"> ii)      Cancer recidivism

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space: auto;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo1"> 7)      What kind of war are we going to have?  <p class="MsoNormal">

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo1">

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo1">

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo1">

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo1">

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level1lfo1"> 8)       Three rules for practicing strategists

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level2lfo1"> a)       Strategy is not about the first move

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level2lfo1"> b)      There is always another option

<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0level2lfo1"> c)       Never stop asking: “Then what?”