What is Demoralisation (in Warfare)?

Introduction Demoralisation is, in a context of warfare, national security, and law enforcement, a process in psychological warfare with the objective to erode morale among enemy combatants and/or non-combatants. That can encourage them to retreat, surrender, or defect rather than defeating them in combat. Demoralisation methods are military tactics such as hit-and-run attacks, such as… Read More

A Brief List of Military Tactics

This article contains a (non-exhaustive) list of military tactics. The meaning of the phrase is context sensitive, and has varied over time, like the difference between “strategy” and “tactics”. General General Point Outline Exploiting Prevailing Weather The tactical use of weather as a force multiplier has influenced many important battles throughout history, such as the… Read More

What is (Military) Extraction?

Introduction In military tactics, extraction (also exfiltration or exfil) is the process of removing personnel when it is considered imperative that they be immediately relocated out of a hostile environment and taken to an area either occupied or controlled by friendly personnel. Extraction is not always used during hostile environments, but can be used or… Read More

What is Military Deception?

Introduction Military deception (MILDEC) is an attempt by a military unit to gain an advantage during warfare by misleading adversary decision makers into taking action or inaction that creates favourable conditions for the deceiving force. This is usually achieved by creating or amplifying an artificial fog of war via psychological operations, information warfare, visual deception,… Read More

What are Infiltration Tactics?

Introduction In warfare, infiltration tactics involve small independent light infantry forces advancing into enemy rear areas, bypassing enemy frontline strongpoints, possibly isolating them for attack by follow-up troops with heavier weapons. Soldiers take the initiative to identify enemy weak points and choose their own routes, targets, moments and methods of attack; this requires a high… Read More

What are Distributed Operations (US)?

Introduction Distributed Operations (DO) is a war-fighting concept drafted by the United States Marine Corps and developed primarily by their Warfighting Laboratory as a response to the changing environment of the Global War on Terror. Adaptive enemies and a more complex environment were seen as requiring conventional forces to maintain the ability to decentralise decision… Read More

What is Mission Command?

Introduction Mission command, also referred to as mission-type tactics, is a style of military command, derived from the Prussian-pioneered mission-type tactics doctrine, which combines centralised intent with decentralised execution subsidiarity and promotes freedom and speed of action, and initiative, within defined constraints (also refer to military strategy and military tactics). Subordinates, understanding the commander’s intentions,… Read More