Qualities of an Ideal Staff Officer…

“An ideal General Staff Corps officer might be described as possessing the following qualities: sincerity of conviction, cleverness, modesty, self-effacement in favour of the common cause, and strong personal convictions combined with the ability tactfully to present these convictions to his commanding general. If his opinions were not accepted he must be sufficiently master of… Read More

Military Tradition vs Evolution…

“‘The younger men, in opposition to the older, believed that there was no time to be lost; the representatives of tradition wanted, and so far as they were able to do insisted, on a slow and gradual evolution.” (Guderian, 1990, 459). Heinz Guderian, a World War I junior officer and World War II General. Creator, trainer… Read More

Caution, Certainty & Boldness…

“Their caution was not Montgomery’s, who obviously considered that insistence on 100 per cent certainty was to be preferred to a policy of boldness, which is true in questions of strategy, although certainly not in tactics.” (Rommel, 1953, p.515).   Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel (the Desert Fox), World War I junior officer and World War II… Read More

Exploit Tactical Successes or…

“Tactical successes must be ruthlessly exploited. A routed enemy who, on the day of his flight, can be rounded up without much effort, may reappear on the morrow restored to his full fighting power.” (Rommel, 1953, p.398). Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel (the Desert Fox), World War I junior officer and World War II General, considered a… Read More

Synergy: Strategy & Tactics…

“The best strategic plan is useless if it cannot be executed tactically.” (Rommel, 1953, p.389). Field-Marshal Erwin Rommel (the Desert Fox), World War I junior officer and World War II General, considered a brilliant military commander; adored by his troops and feared by his enemies. Reference Rommel, E., Liddel Hart, B.H. (ed) & Findlay, P.… Read More

The Difference: Talkers and Doers

“There often occurred to me the difference between the Professor of Economics and the business man, as judged by their financial success. The business man may not perhaps be on the same intellectual plane as the professor, but he bases his ideas on real facts and puts the whole power of his will behind their… Read More

Military Operations & Tactical Decision Making

Research Paper Title Tactical Decision Making: A Proposed Evaluation Criteria Model for the Infantry Battalion’s Tactical Estimate during Offensive Operations. Abstract This study seeks to determine if it is possible to construct an evaluation criteria model that improves the infantry battalion’s capability to select the best course of action during the deliberate tactical estimate. It examines US and selected… Read More