Military Review

Behind Friendly Lines: Enforcing the Need for a Joint Sof Staff Officer

Schreiber, Metzger, and Mezhir discuss the urgency of training and education in enhancing the special operations forces knowledge of joint operations on strategic planning duties in the global war on terrorism. Among other things, they focus on following the military's chain of command for an orderly process of training by several bureaucracies including the US Special Operations Command, the Special Operations Command Joint Forces Command, and the Joint Special Operations University. Details...

An Unconventional War: The Philippine Insurrection, 1899

Bundt discusses the significance of unconventional warfare techniques, including pacifications and constabulary forces, which the American military adapted during the Philippine Insurrection of 1899. Among other things, he shows how it led the military to new applications of the principles of war, and how the soldiers also learned to abide by the laws of war and set more humane boundaries for future military operations to mitigate extreme cruelty.

Redefining the Foreign Area Officer's Role

Vane and Fagundes discuss the need of the US army to change the Cold War paradigm strategy of the foreign area officer (FAO) to adapt the changing time and place of the present war. Among other things, they recommend the development of FAOs strategist skills through formal education and self-study, and when possible, the Army should require FAO trainees to take electives in strategic studies and national policy areas while attending graduate school.

Information Operations in Iraq

Emery discusses the Information Operations (IO) that involves a thorough understanding of guerrilla operations, low-intensity conflict, the Trinitarian model of conflict, and the McCormick Payoff Function that will lead to a doctrinal IO solution for use against the Iraqis. He further states that in contrast to the Powell Doctrine that forces the US to rely on its force advantage, the IO doctrine gives an intelligence advantage over the opponents in Iraq.

Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines: What Would Sun Tzu Say?

During Operation Enduring Freedom--Philippines in 2001, Special Forces units trained and advised nine native battalions in counter terrorism operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group to help in the rescue of US hostages. Maxwell believes the effort would have been more successful had US leaders followed author Sun Tzu's advice of knowing one's enemy and knowing one's self.

Preparing Leaders for Nationbuilding

The US has been waging the Global War on Terrorism since shortly after Sep 11, 2001 and, arguably, has been unofficially at war with terrorists since the end of Operation Desert Storm. Donahoe discusses the need for Army leaders to be trained and equipped with better skills to make them more effective in defeating radical Islam and its proselytizing terrorists.

Army Transformation: The Human Condition of Soldiering

In the late 1990s, the Chief of Staff of the Army announced that Fort Lewis, Washington, would be the site of the Army's initial effort at Transformation. The 1st Battalion, 23d Infantry Regiment (the Tomahawks), under the command of Lt Col John Nickolson Jr was one of the initial units to undergo Transformation. Delaney details how 1-23d transformed from a heavy mechanized infantry battalion to an interim brigade combat team.

A History of Unit Stabilization

Unit stabilization, which is different from unit rotation, is a personnel-management action that achieves a low rate of personnel turnover in a unit by restricting assignments outside the unit for a sustained period of time. Brinkerhoff gives an account of the history of unit stabilization and discusses why it should be a part of the Army's Transformation process.

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) helps members of the US Army National Guard and Army Reserve balance responsibilities to employers with military obligations. Hollingsworth details the history of ESGR and its mission.

Develop People and Units Before Developing Technology

As America's Army builds its 21st-century force, Krumm opines that the nation's soldiers, not new technology, are its best defense. The Army must institute a unit-centric personnel policy to build individual skills, but not at the expense of operational units. The Army does not need to wait for new technology; such a system is possible now.

Homeland Defense: The Pennsylvania State Guard, 1941-1953

Homeland defense or homeland security, created by Pres George W. Bush after the terrorist attacks on the US on Oct 8, 2001, is not a new concept. When the US Army National Guard (ARNG)--the traditional state ready-action force--went to WWII, the obvious need arose for trained force to replace it. Bankus highlights the formation of Pennsylvania Reserve Defense Corps during WWII to take the place of deployed ARNG and US Army Reserve units.

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

Enacted in Oct 1994 and updated in 1996, 1998, and 2000, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act provides reemployment protection and other benefits for veterans and employees who perform military service. Details on the significant changes from the pre-1994 law are presented.

Transforming for New Military Demands

Hopkins discusses the need for today's Army to evolve; stating that the way the US flexes its muscles through the Military National Power needs to be transformed. He further opines that DOD must adapt to change or risk extinction, so it must adapt to new warfighting techniques and the changing mindset of war. If change does not occur, "doing business as usual" could affect the balance of power for the next millennium.

How Wars Are Won: The 13 Rules of War From Ancient Greece to the War On Terrorism

Baillergeon reviews HOW WARS ARE WON: The 13 Rules of War from Ancient Greece to the War On Terrorism by Bevin Alexander.

Medieval Chinese Warfare, 300-900

Bernstein reviews MEDIEVAL CHINESE WARFARE, 300-900 by David A. Graff.

Hitler's Volkssturm: The Nazi Militia and the Fall of Germany, 1944-1945

Stephenson reviews HITLER'S VOLKSSTURM: The Nazi Militia and the Fall of Germany, 1944-1945 by David K. Yelton.

Johnny Green of the Orphan Brigade: The Journal of a Confederate Soldier

White reviews JOHNNY GREEN OF THE ORPHAN BRIGADE: The Journal of a Confederate Soldier edited by Albert D. Kirwan.

Burma's Armed Forces: Power Without Glory

Currey reviews BURMA'S ARMED FORCES: Power Without Glory by Andrew Selth.

The Military and Democracy in Indonesia: Challenges, Politics and Power

Sherrill reviews THE MILITARY AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA: Challenges, Politics and Power by Angel Rabasa and John Haseman.

Insights

Army Value Added Along the Way Ahead

Throughout military history, particularly American military history, a commitment to build and exploit technological advantages has remained constant. Smith discusses the issues that are critical to the future US military component of national power--how the US military exploits information to sustain or regain peace in the future and how, when, and where the US military resorts to lethal means to resolve conflicts.

Technology and the American Civil War

The conduct of war changed as a result of three technological advances during the Civil War--the rifled musket, the electric telegraph, and the railroad. Moorehead discusses how these advances changed the nature of war and how the US Army can learn from it.

Book Reviews

The Twenty-Five Year Century: A South Vietnamese General Remembers the Indochina War to the Fall of Saigon

Willbanks reviews THE TWENTY-FIVE YEAR CENTURY: A South Vietnamese General Remembers the Indochina War to the Fall of Saigon by Lam Quang Thi.

Strategic Asia 2002-2003: Asian Aftershocks

Schifferle reviews STRATEGIC ASIA 2002-2003: Asian Aftershocks edited by Richard J. Ellings and Aaron L. Friedberg.

Waging War Without Warriors: The Changing Culture of Military Conflict

Sutherland reviews WAGING WAR WITHOUT WARRIORS: The Changing Culture of Military Conflict by Christopher Coker.

Iran and the Surrounding World: Interactions in Culture and Cultural Politics

Aboul-Enein reviews IRAN AND THE SORROUNDING WORLD: Interactions in Culture and Cultural Politics edited by Nikki R. Keddie and Rudi Matthee.

Counterinsurgency Lessons From Malaya and Vietnam: Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife

Grau reviews COUNTERINSURGENCY LESSONS FROM MALAYA AND VIETNAM: Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife by John A. Nagl.

Lee's Tar Heels: The Pettigrew-Kirkland-Macrae Brigade

Leonard reviews LEE'S TAR HEELS: The Pettigrew-Kirkland-MacRae Brigade by Earl J. Hess.

What Does the World Want From America? International Perspectives On U.S. Foreign Policy

Reinhold reviews WHAT DOES THE WORLD WANT FROM AMERICA? International Perspectives on U.S. Foreign Policy edited by Alexander T. J. Lennon.

The French Second Empire: An Anatomy of Political Power

McCormick reviews THE FRENCH SECOND EMPIRE: An Anatomy of Political Power by Roger Price.

The Specter of Genocide: Mass Murder in Historical Perspective

Barnhill reviews THE SPECTER OF GENOCIDE: Mass Murder in Historical Perspective edited by Robert Gellately and Ben Kiernan.