INTA 4803TP / 8803TP © Tom Pilsch Habersham 141 "The Circle of Modern War" and logo © Thomas D. Pilsch 2010

INTA 4803TP / 8803TP © A study of armed conflict in the 20th Century with emphasis on the impact of technology and geopolitics on society and military science. "The Circle of Modern War" and logo © Thomas D. Pilsch

Today’s Session Introductions Background Course overview Rules of Engagement Lesson 1: Character of War

The successful student will gain the historical foundation and framework to support informed discussion and analysis of modern warfare, its causes, conduct, and consequences. Course Objective

Teach social scientists and humanists some technology Secondary Objectives Teach technologists some history

Why Do We Study History? Those who cannot remember the past are doomed George Santyana ( ) The Age of Reason, Vol. I, Reason in Common Sense, 1905 to repeat it

Why Do We Study History? Those who cannot remember the past are doomed George Santyana ( ) The Age of Reason, Vol. I, Reason in Common Sense, 1905 to repeat it Pilsch’s Corollary

The One Commandment Non Sequitur, February 3, 2007 © Wiley Miller 2007

Why Do We Study History? History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes. Attributed to Samuel Clements ( )

Why Do We Study War? “I must study Politicks and War that my sons may have liberty to study Painting and Poetry Mathematicks and Philosophy. My sons ought to study Mathematicks and Philosophy, Geography, natural History, Naval Architecture, navigation, Commerce and Agriculture, in order to give their Children a right to study Painting, Poetry, Musick, Architecture, Statuary, Tapestry and Porcelaine.” John Adams, in a letter to his wife Abigail May 12, 1780 Full Document

Why Do We Study War? "The student who reads history will unconsciously develop what is the highest value of history: judgment in worldly affairs. This is a permanent good, not because "history repeats" - we can never exactly match past and present situations - but because the "tendency of things" shows an amazing uniformity within any given civilization. As the great historian Burckhardt said of historical knowledge, it is not 'to make us more clever the next time, but wiser for all time.'" -Jacques Barzun, Begin Here: The Forgotten Conditions of Teaching and Learning

While you may not be interested in war, war is interested in you. Why Are You Here? Attributed to Leon Trotsky

“We never seem to learn the lessons of war, do we?” Why Am I Here? Student, Fall 2007

One of you might become president someday … Why Am I Here?

The Generation GapMy Biggest Challenge

I experienced the second half of the 20 th century … My Background … and want to pass along to others some of the lessons (un)learned.

I experienced the second half of the 20 th century … My Background Interesting Events Interesting Places Interesting People Interesting Work

My Background US Air Force Academy

My Background College Summer Orientation

Interesting Events JFK Funeral – November 1963

Interesting Work Pilot Training Williams AFB, AZ T-41 T-37 T-38

Interesting Places CFB Goose Bay, Newfoundland - February 1967

Interesting Places Hué Vietnam

Interesting Work Grad School Assistant Professor Aeronautics

Interesting Work Flying My Airplanes

Interesting Work Aircraft Requirements & Acquisition C-17 Globemaster III

Interesting People Fort McPherson, GA

Interesting Work Operations & Diplomacy Azores Islands Lajes Field

Interesting Work Looking Glass EC-135 – Offutt AFB NE

Current Interests History & International Affairs Rise & Fall of Empires Technology & War Geopolitics The Role of China in all of this

About the Course War is the ultimate international affair “Applied International Affairs”

About the Course History of War Military History vs. evolution of the character of armed conflict a study of military science and the detailed conduct of war A

Course Overview Lesson plans available at Let’s Tour the Web site 30 meetings => 1:20 each  No textbook => all readings online

Course Overview Lesson plans available at 30 meetings => 1:20 each No textbook => all readings online Reference resources available at

Circle of Modern War © Themes & Threads Match/Mismatch between national objectives & national strategy Core technologies: metallurgy, chemistry, physics, mechanics, electronics Core Weapons: infantry weapons, artillery, naval armament, aircraft Logistics as the lynchpin of modern war Offense vs. defense Revolutions in Military Affairs (RMA)

Course Schedule Lessons will be chronological there will be occasional diversions for emphasis Desert Storm War at the Dawn of the 20 th Century World War I World War II Cold War Vietnam, but … A

Lessons Maxims of Moment

“Nothing so comforts the military mind as the maxim of a great but dead general.” Barbara Tuchman The Guns of August (1962)

Lessons Maxims of Moment Lesson Objectives

Lessons Maxims of Moment Lesson Objectives Significant source of quiz and exam questions. Study Guides Buzz Words alert (important stuff!!)

Lessons Maxims of Moment Lesson Objectives Study Guides Assignments

Readings Variety of Assignment Sources e-books NetLibrary: Journal articles JSTOR: Databases => Social Sciences => History => JSTOR Others Organizational & Individual Web sites, War Gamers, Re-enactors, NPS, Wikipedia, etc.

Syllabus Rules of Engagement (ROE): Directives issued by competent military authority which delineate the circumstances and limitations under which... forces will initiate and/or continue combat engagement with other forces encountered. (Joint Publication 1-02)

Rules of Engagement Course overview Readings Grading Attendance Class Decorum Office Hours A

Grading Standard distribution: A B C D < 60 F Graded Factors & Value: Quizzes 10 % In-class Exams 30 % Papers 30 % Final Exam 30 % (inclusive ) (undergraduates)

Graduate Students Let’s meet after this class

Attendance Mandatory Arrive on time!

Class Decorum

Office Hours What time is best for most of you? Suggest: Just about any time by appointment (Just let me know you are coming)

Other Thoughts Academic Integrity Work submitted for grade needs to be your own OK to discuss ideas for inclusion in a paper Actual writing must be your own Ideas of others must be documented If you study together …don’t sit together during tests

Other Thoughts Academic Integrity Special Needs? Talk to me outside of class Comments From Past Years

Comments from Past Years “I really need the A in this class to balance out with some of my harder [major] classes this semester … “

Comments from Past Years “In one lesson you gave us three readings that each came to a different conclusion. That’s not fair. Just tell us what we need to know!”

Comments from Past Years “There is a lot of material. I wish I had kept up.”

Questions?

INTA 4803TP / 8803TP © Tom Pilsch CoC 112 "The Circle of Modern War" and logo © Thomas D. Pilsch

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Why Do We Study War? “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.” Attributed to Samuel Clements, "It is not worth while to try to keep history from repeating itself, for man's character will always make the preventing of the repetitions impossible." Mark Twain, Eruption: Hitherto Unpublished Pages About Men and Events, published 1940