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Doctrinal Change in the Army: A Comprehensive Analysis of Evolution and Transformation

George Bell

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Published in Forging The Sword: Doctrinal Change In The U S Army

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Forging the Sword: Doctrinal Change in the U.S. Army

by Benjamin Jensen

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3313 KB
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Print length	:	218 pages

Doctrine, the fundamental principles that guide military operations, is a living document that must constantly evolve to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. For the United States Army, doctrinal change has been a continuous process throughout its history, driven by the need to adapt to new threats, technological advancements, and evolving operational environments. This comprehensive analysis examines the historical evolution of Army doctrine, the key drivers of change, and the challenges and opportunities associated with doctrinal transformation in the modern era.

Historical Evolution of Army Doctrine

The Army's first formal doctrine was published in 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil War. This doctrine, known as the "War Department General Regulations," provided guidance on the organization, training, and conduct of operations for Union forces. Over the years, Army doctrine has undergone significant revisions, reflecting the lessons learned from combat experience, technological innovations, and changes in the global security environment. Key milestones in the evolution of Army doctrine include:

The Field Service Regulations of 1891 introduced the concept of maneuver warfare, emphasizing the importance of mobility and firepower in combat.
The Field Service Regulations of 1923 incorporated the principles of airpower and combined arms operations, reflecting the increasing importance of aviation in modern warfare.
The Field Manual 100-5, Operations, published in 1941, provided a comprehensive framework for conducting military operations during World War II.
The AirLand Battle Doctrine of 1982 introduced the concept of deep operations, emphasizing the use of airpower, long-range artillery, and maneuver forces to attack the enemy's rear areas.
The Army Vision 2010 Doctrine, published in 1994, outlined the Army's vision for future warfare, emphasizing the importance of information technology, joint operations, and multinational cooperation.

Key Drivers of Doctrinal Change

A variety of factors have driven doctrinal change in the Army. These include:

Combat Experience: The lessons learned from combat provide a valuable foundation for doctrinal change. The Army's experience in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War have all led to significant revisions in doctrine.
Technological Advancements: The of new technologies has a profound impact on warfare and often necessitates changes in doctrine. The development of airpower, nuclear weapons, and precision-guided munitions have all led to major doctrinal shifts.
Changing Operational Environments: The Army's doctrine must adapt to the changing operational environments it faces. The rise of urban warfare, counterinsurgency, and hybrid warfare has forced the Army to develop new tactics and techniques.
National Security Policy: The Army's doctrine is shaped by national security policy. Changes in national security priorities, such as the shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world, have led to changes in Army doctrine.

Challenges and Opportunities of Doctrinal Transformation

Doctrinal transformation is a complex and challenging process. The Army faces a number of challenges in adapting its doctrine to the demands of modern warfare. These challenges include:

Complexity of Modern Warfare: Warfare is becoming increasingly complex, with the proliferation of new technologies, the rise of non-state actors, and the blurring of the lines between war and peace. This complexity makes it difficult to develop doctrine that is both comprehensive and adaptable.
Rapid Pace of Technological Change: The pace of technological change is accelerating, making it difficult for the Army to keep its doctrine up to date. New technologies are emerging constantly, and the Army must be able to adapt its doctrine quickly to take advantage of new capabilities.
Globalization of Warfare: The Army is increasingly operating in a globalized environment, where it must cooperate with a variety of allies and partners. This requires the Army to develop doctrine that is compatible with the doctrines of other nations.
Resource Constraints: The Army is facing resource constraints, which make it difficult to develop and implement new doctrine. The Army must be able to balance the need for doctrinal innovation with the need to conserve resources.

Despite these challenges, doctrinal transformation also presents a number of opportunities for the Army. These opportunities include:

Enhanced Adaptability: By developing a more adaptive doctrine, the Army can better respond to the challenges of modern warfare. Adaptive doctrine allows the Army to quickly adjust its tactics and techniques to meet the demands of changing operational environments.
Improved Joint and Multinational Cooperation: By developing doctrine that is compatible with the doctrines of other nations, the Army can improve its ability to cooperate with allies and partners. This is essential for conducting joint and multinational operations.
Increased Innovation: Doctrinal transformation provides the Army with an opportunity to innovate and develop new ways of conducting warfare. The Army must be willing to experiment with new concepts and ideas in order to keep pace with the changing world.

The Role of Emerging Technologies

Emerging technologies are playing an increasingly important role in doctrinal change. The Army is exploring a wide range of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, auton

Forging the Sword: Doctrinal Change in the U.S. Army

by Benjamin Jensen

4.6 out of 5