The Principles of War and Operations

1
The Principles of WarandOperations
2
The Principles of War

• The nine principles of war represent the most
  important nonphysical factors that affect the
  conduct of operations at the strategic,
  operational, and tactical levels.
• 
  Field Manual 3-0 Operations, 27 February
  2008
• 
  Joint Publication 3-0 Joint Operations
  (Change 1), 13 February 2008

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The Principles of Operations

• Joint doctrineadds three principles of
  operations to the traditional nine principles of
  war.
• 
  Field Manual 3-0
  Operations, 27 February 2008

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Collectively


Together with the principles of war, these
twelve groups make up the Principles of Joint
Operations.
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Background

• Originally published by the Army after World War
  I
• First published and outlined in 1921 Training
  Regulations No. 10-5
• First clarified in 1923 Infantry Journal articles
• First officially defined in 1949 in FM 100-5
• Principles modestly adjusted as they stood the
  tests of analysis, experimentation, and practice
• Not a checklist
• Considered in all operations, but not applied the
  same in every situation
• They summarize characteristics of successful
  operations
• Greatest value lies in the education of military
  personnel

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The Nine Principles of War

• Objective
• Offensive
• Mass
• Economy of Force
• Maneuver
• Unity of Command
• Security
• Surprise
• Simplicity

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Objective
1

• Direct every military operation toward a clearly
  defined, decisive, and attainable objective.
• Principle of objective drives all military
  activity
• At the operational and tactical levels, objective
  ensures all actions contribute to the higher
  commanders end state
• Clearly stated objectives promote individual
  initiative
• Objectives clarify what subordinates need to
  accomplish by emphasizing the outcome rather than
  the method
• Objectives must contribute to the operations
  purpose directly, quickly, and economically
• Tactical operation must contribute to achieving
  operational and strategic objectives

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Offensive
2

• Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative.
• Offensive is synonymous with initiative
• Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative
• Dictates the nature, scope, and tempo of an
  operation
• Compels an enemy to react
• Commanders use initiative to control a situation
• In combat operations, offensive action is the
  most effective and decisive way to achieve a
  clearly defined objective
• Offensive operations are the means by which a
  military force seizes and holds the initiative

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Mass
3

• Concentrate the effects of combat power at the
• decisive place and time.
• Synchronize combat power
• Strike with a closed fist
• Mass effects vice just forces

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Economy of Force
4

• Allocate minimum essential combat power to
  secondary efforts.
• Economy of Force is the reciprocal of mass
• Allocate minimal combat power for shaping and
  sustaining operations
• Give all forces a purpose
• Act in concert
• Use delays, defense, etc.

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Maneuver
5

• Place the enemy in a disadvantageous position
  through the flexible application of combat power.

• Gain positional advantage
• Keep enemy forces reactive
• Designate and shift main effort
• Reject predictable patterns
• Effective maneuver keeps enemy forces off balance
• Army forces gain and preserve freedom of action,
  reduce vulnerability, and exploit success through
  maneuver

12
Unity of Command
6

• For every objective, ensure unity of effort under
  one responsible commander.

• Designate one responsible commander
• Ensure unity of effort
• Designate one common objective

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Security
7

• Never permit the enemy to acquire and unexpected
  advantage.

• Protects the force
• Preserves combat power
• Practice military deception

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Surprise
8

• Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a
  manner for which he is unprepared.

• Powerful but temporary combat multiplier
• Keep enemy forces reactive
• Contributing factors
• Speed
• Timing (windows of opportunity)
• Operations security
• Asymmetric capabilities

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Simplicity
9

• Prepare clear, uncomplicated plans and clear,
  concise orders to ensure thorough understanding.

• Situation determines degree of simplicity
  required
• Orders use clearly defined terms and graphics
• When possible, keep it simple and direct
• Reduces chances for misinterpretation and
  confusion
• Impacts on multinational, interagency, and
  nongovernmental organizations

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The Three Principles of Operations

• Perseverance
• Legitimacy
• Restraint

Joint doctrineadds three principles of
operations to the traditional nine principles of
war.
Field Manual 3-0 Operations, 27 February
2008
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Perseverance
1

• Ensure the commitment necessary to attain the
  national strategic end state.

• Prepare for measured, protracted operations
• Understand mission intent and goals
• Joint operations may require years to reach end
  state
• Underlying causes of the crisis may be elusive
• Involve diplomatic, informational, and economic
  measures to supplement military efforts

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Legitimacy
2

• Develop and maintain the will necessary to attain
  the national strategic end state.

• Legality of the operation IAW U.S. law
• Legality of the operation IAW international laws
  and treaties
• Support of the American people
• Consent by host-nation government and the
  peoples expectations
• Perception of intent

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Restraint
3

• Limit collateral damage and prevent the
  unnecessary use of force.

• Disciplined balance of security, conduct of
  military operations, and desired strategic end
  state
• Appropriate use of force
• Rules of engagement (identify plausible
  situations)
• Awareness of national restrictions on force
  participants
• Home-nation concerns for multinational
  participants
• Political sensitivities
• Level of support by home-nation

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Summary

• Be able to identify and describe
• The Principles of War
• The Principles of Operations
• The Principles of Joint Operations
• You will see these again this semesteras well
  as numerous
• other times during your training in ROTC!

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Conclusion

• Principles of War and Operations

• The nine principles of war represent the most
  important
• nonphysical factors that affect the conduct
  of operations at
• the strategic, operational, and tactical
  levels.
• The principles of war are not a checklist.
• While they are considered in all operations,
  they do not
• apply in the same way to every situation.
  Rather, they
• summarize characteristics of successful
  operations.
• Their greatest value lies in the education of
  the military
• professional.
• Applied to the study of past campaigns, major
  operations,
• battles, and engagements, the principles of
  war are
• powerful analysis tools.