Ignore Phase 1 at Your Peril: A Call for Better Exercises
NATO rarely, if ever, exercises the deployment to and operation of the force in an environment that is under “hybrid” attack.
planning
“The Only Problem with the Operations Planning Process is that We Don’t Use It!”: Why this Argument is Invalid
SWJED
Tue, 05/28/2019 - 1:37pm
Over the years I have heard time and again the argument made that “the only problem with the operations planning process is that we don’t use it!” Often this argument is made at a staff college by some “greybeard” or other, although I have also heard it made by other less venerable staff and on occasion even by students of such institutions. It is usually offered as a reason why no reform, change, or update is required to whichever operations planning process is under discussion.
In Case of Emergency - Don’t Panic, Plan
SWJED
Fri, 11/16/2018 - 6:18am
If we want to increase the chances of our missions succeeding, we must first understand the complexity of what we are dealing with and plan accordingly. Moreover, we need to treat planning not as a one-time activity but as an ongoing, iterative affair that is responsive to the continual and multifaceted changes characteristic of complex crises.
Help the Plan Survive Contact: Write Better Decisive Conditions
SWJED
Tue, 09/26/2017 - 8:48am
If we have our decisive conditions wrong, we will construct the wrong effects and wrong measurements. It doesn’t matter how good our actions may be.
Fooled by Certainty
Danish philosopher Kierkegaard noted almost 200 years ago, “There are only two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”
About the Author(s)
Three Design Concepts Introduced for Strategic and Operational Applications
Design thinker and frequent contributor to Small Wars Journal, Major Ben Zweibelson has been published in the recent issue of National Defense University’s PRISM journal. His article, titled “Three Design Concepts Introduced for Strategic and Operational Applications” (p. 87) may look familiar to SWJ readers that follow Ben’s design work. He based this most recent article on his previous design articles published here at Small Wars Journal. Ben expressed to our editors that many of the concepts in this new article were made possible by the many helpful and insightful comments by SWJ readers on Ben’s previous articles published here. Small Wars Journal is encouraged to see fellow military publications engaging in the continuing design debate over concepts, methodology, and application in strategic and operational situations.
The Tripolitan War: A Case for Evolving Strategies
American leaders secured victory by reviewing the strategy and making corrections. Conversely, Tripolitan leaders placed their faith in a comfortable, outdated strategy.
About the Author(s)
Building Another Tower of Babel
Why acronyms are ruining shared military understanding.
About the Author(s)
Understanding Groupthink
Deeper understanding of groupthink, its causes, and mitigation techniques should help a commander and his staff prevent it from occurring, and red teams can assist in the cause.
About the Author(s)
Reverse IPB: A Whole-of-Staff Approach to Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield
Making IPB an “entire staff” process is critically important to achieve shared understanding of the various mission variables.
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