Small Wars Journal

The March-April Issue of “Military Review” is Now Online

Thu, 03/01/2018 - 10:35am

Military Review - March-April Issue

2018 General William E. DePuy Writing Competition

Contest opens 1 January 2018 and closes 16 July 2018

Themes and Suggested Topics for Future Editions

 What Kind of Victory for Russia in Syria?

Michael Kofman

Matthew Rojansky, JD

The author describes Russian actions during its intervention in Syria and discusses in detail whether Russia succeeded in meeting its military and political goals in that conflict.

Diasporas, Foreign Governments, and American Politics

Samuel P. Huntington, PhD

In this excerpt from Who Are We? The Challenges to America’s National Identity, a former Harvard University political scientist discusses diasporas, how they are exploited by their home countries, and how they affect U.S. foreign policy.

Russian Diaspora as a Means of Russian Foreign Policy

Öncel Sencerman

In a companion piece to the Huntington article, a Turkish PhD candidate describes how Russia is using its diaspora as an instrument of foreign policy in the former Soviet republics.

Rethinking the U.S. Army Infantry Rifle Squad

Maj. Hassan Kamara, U.S. Army

The author uses Sir Michael Howard’s dimensions of war (operational, technological, logistical, and social) to analyze how changes in military affairs and human society, as well as projections about future war, warrant reconsideration and change to the makeup of the current infantry squad.

The U.S. Army and Mission Command: Philosophy versus Practice

Maj. Brett Matzenbacher, U.S. Army

According to this author, the Army could successfully adopt mission command as its overarching command philosophy by using a more precise definition of mission command and by aligning professional military education with it.

An Army Overseas: Expeditionary Maneuver through
the Maritime Domain

Lt. Col. Trent J. Lythgoe, U.S. Army

The Army must restore its expeditionary capabilities. Success in the future depends on coordinated and mutually reinforcing air, sea, and land expeditionary forces, says this author, and the Army must do its share. (Honorable Mention, 2017 General William E. DePuy Writing Competition

Putting Concepts of Future Warfare to the Test

Maj. John Spencer, U.S. Army

Lionel Beehner, PhD

Capt. Brandon Thomas, U.S. Army

Three West Point researchers refute the widely held assumption that younger soldiers possess a higher aptitude and familiarity with digital technologies than their predecessors, but they support the Army’s progressive-and-sequential training model.

Commanding in Multi-Domain Formations

Maj. Anthony M. Clas, EdD, U.S. Army

The author describes what the U.S. military needs to be successful in the twenty-first century multi-domain operational environment and recommends where further research and shifts in approach should be directed.

The Tyranny of the Shores: Army Planning for the Asia-Pacific Theater

Brian J. Dunn

The U.S. Army must consider and prepare for a role in the Asia-Pacific region that goes beyond merely fighting anti-access/area denial threats to one that better accounts for the value of large-scale land operations in support of a joint campaign.

Western Anbar after the Awakening: A Tale of Three Cities

Maj. Michael W. Hein, U.S. Army

The period of five years following the Anbar Awakening offers important lessons and highlights potential consequences for a tribe-based counterinsurgency strategy.

A Joint and Operational Approach for Security Assistance to Georgia and Ukraine

Col. Tim Kreuttner, U.S. Army

Lt. Col. Sami Alnaqbi, United Arab Emirates Navy

Lt. Col. Jarrod Knapp, U.S. Air Force

Maj. James Woodard, U.S. Marine Corps

Four authors with different military backgrounds explain how an integrated joint approach to security cooperation focusing at the operational level with Ukraine and Georgia would strengthen those U.S. partners and serve as a deterrent to Russian aggression.

Mission before Comfort: A Mission-Focused Approach to Gender in the Army

Capt. Molly Kovite, U.S. Army

An Army judge advocate uses anecdotal evidence to argue against gender-based billeting segregation as it is an impediment to mission accomplishment. (Third Place, 2017 General William E. DePuy Writing Competition)

Implacable Foes: War in the Pacific, 1944-1945

Lt. Col. Jesse McIntyre III, U.S. Army, Retired

The author critiques a book by Waldo Heinrichs and Marc Gallicchio that describes the last year of war in the Pacific Theater during World War II and the challenges faced by the United States in defeating a foe committed to fighting to the last man.

Captain Gary M. Rose - Medal of Honor Recipient

Retired Army Capt. Gary Michael “Mike” Rose was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Donald J. Trump in a 23 October 2017 White House ceremony for his actions during a covert operation from 11 to 14 September 1970 in Laos during the Vietnam War.