defense reform

A PME training module on chess is good for the U.S. military, provides the U.S. military workforce with diverse and transferable skill-sets.

Shared sacrifice often leads to innovative solutions that make operations more efficient.   This requires openness to bottom-up communication.

Why acronyms are ruining shared military understanding.

When Afghanistan failed, then COIN was seen as having failed too, having proved itself too risky, too time-consuming to justify its extraordinary investment in lives and treasure.

Capo-militaries, by their diverse portfolio of activities, such as the use of sophisticated weapons, logistics, and tactics, have become threats to national and international security.

Military historian Martin van Creveld argues that women’s presence in the military is little but an expensive charade.

Current strategic guidance documents rely upon catchphrases and hyperbole to defer tough national security decision-making.

Ongoing changes in tactics and organization presage a near-term transformation to battalion-based Battle Groups.

People and culture are important – but they are not the only important things. Their importance is relative to the mission and the operational environment.  

Simply put, interagency reformists have failed to understand the environment within which they are proposing change.

Thoughts compiled in preparation for a discussion with the Chief of Staff of the Army's Strategic Studies Group on military culture and change.