Making Strategy

“War is an extension of politics by other means.” - Carl von Clausewitz

Overview Definitions Doctrine National Objectives Grand Strategy Military Strategy Operational Strategy Battlefield Strategy Influences on the Strategy Process

Definitions Policy—Guidance that is directive or instructive, stating what is to be accomplished Objectives and rules of engagement Mutable and often changes

Definitions Strategy—The art and science of coordinating the development, deployment, and employment of military forces to achieve national security objectives

Definitions Doctrine—A statement of officially sanctioned beliefs, war-fighting principles, and terminology that describes and guides the proper use of military forces in support of national objectives How a job should be done Evolves from experience and theory Authoritative, but unlike policy, not directive

Doctrine Common frame of reference Shapes how AF organizes, trains, equips, and sustains Prepares us for future uncertainties Used with judgment Political, economic, or social situation may dictate departure from doctrine

National Objectives The fundamental aims, goals, or purposes of a nation toward which a policy is directed, and efforts & resources are applied Three Levels of Interest Vital Major Peripheral

National Objectives Vital Interests—Broad, overriding importance to the survival, safety, and vitality of our nation State is not willing to compromise on State is generally willing to go to war to protect

National Objectives Major interests—Affect our national well-being May use force…not normally necessary Peacekeeping operations Reconnaissance missions

National Objectives Peripheral Interests—Our nation may act because our values demand it Response to disasters Human rights violations Environmental protection

National Objectives Interests are often intertwined Vietnam? Kosovo? Iraq? Afghanistan?

SSG pg. 97

Grand Strategy Development & use of ALL national power instruments and the coordination of these instruments Diplomatic Information Military Economic

Grand Strategy Players President Congress National Media Interest groups/Public opinion

Current Military Strategy Strategic Objectives Achieving Our Objectives Managing Risk

Current Military Strategy To support the NSS and provide enduring security for the American people, the Department has five key objectives: Defend the Homeland Win the Long War Promote Security Deter Conflict Win our Nation’s Wars

Current Military Strategy We will achieve our objectives by… Shaping the choices of key states; Preventing adversaries from acquiring or using WMD; Strengthening and expanding alliances & partnerships; Securing US strategic access and retaining freedom of action; and, Integrating and unifying our efforts

Current Military Strategy Managing Risk Operational Future Challenges Force Management Institutional

Operational Strategy The art and science of planning, orchestrating, and directing military campaigns within a theater of operations to achieve national security objectives

Operational Strategy What does it do? Levels of operational strategy Links the national level concerns of military strategy with battlefield concerns of tactics Levels of operational strategy Combined campaigns Joint campaigns Component campaigns

Operational Strategy Orchestration of all military efforts in the theater Goal is to win the theater war Achieve the military objective Military objective contributes to the achievement of a political objective

Battlefield Strategy (Tactics) The art and science of employing forces on the battlefield to achieve national security objectives

Battlefield Strategy Dynamic level of operations Difficult to talk about in general terms nuclear war operations other than war conventional war space war information war urban warfare desert war the list goes on......

Points to Remember… National objectives drive the process Protect/achieve vital national interests Grand Strategy incorporates and/or coordinates all the instruments of national power…not just military Military Strategy supports national objectives Must support higher (grand) strategy Operational and Battlefield Strategy must be flexible Several influences on the strategy process

Summary Definitions Doctrine National Objectives Grand Strategy Military Strategy Operational Strategy Battlefield Strategy Influences on the Strategy Process

“If the world is to have ONE superpower, thank God it is the United States of America.” - Gen Khalid, Saudi Arabia

QUESTIONS?