Making Making StrategyStrategy

War is an extension War is an extension of politics by other of politics by other means.means.

- - Carl von ClausewitzCarl von Clausewitz

Samples of BehaviorSamples of Behavior List, in order, the five steps of the

strategy process State how a nation determines its

national objectives ID external factors that influence

the strategy process Describe the terms “Shape,” “

Respond,” and “Prepare Now” in reference to the National Military Strategy

Making StrategyMaking StrategyNational ObjectivesGrand StrategyMilitary StrategyOperational StrategyBattlefield StrategyInfluences on the Strategy

Process

National ObjectivesThe fundamental aims, The fundamental aims,

goals, or purposes of a goals, or purposes of a nation, toward which a nation, toward which a policy is directed and policy is directed and efforts & resources are efforts & resources are applied.applied.

National Objectives

An extension of a state’s national interests

Vital – broad, overriding importance to the survival, safety and vitality of our nation State is not willing to compromisenot willing to compromise

on State is generally willing to go to willing to go to

war to protectwar to protect

National Objectives

Major (important) interests - these effect our National well-being

Halt flow of Haitian refugees NATO Operations in Bosnia/Kosovo

Assistance in East Timor

National Objectives

Peripheral (humanitarian and other) - our nation may act because our values demand it

Response to disasters Human rights violations De-mining Environmental protection

National Objectives

Interests are often intertwined•Vietnam?•Iraq? •Bosnia?•Kosovo?

Grand Strategy

Development & use of ALL Development & use of ALL National power instruments National power instruments and the coordination of these and the coordination of these instrumentsinstruments

InstrumentsInstruments of National of National powerpower PoliticalPolitical MilitaryMilitary EconomicEconomic InformationInformation

Grand StrategyGrand Strategy

PresidentPresident • Greatest influence on international Greatest influence on international

relationsrelationsCongressCongress

• Primary check on the PresidentPrimary check on the PresidentNational mediaNational mediaInterest groupsInterest groups

• Public opinionPublic opinion

Grand Strategy Grand Strategy PlayersPlayers

NATIONAL OBJECTIVESGrand Strategy

PoliticalStrategy

EconomicStrategy

Military Strategy

Military Strategy

The art and science of The art and science of coordinatingcoordinating thethe development, development, deployment,deployment, andand employment employment of of military forces to achieve national military forces to achieve national security objectives.security objectives.““SECDEFSECDEF Report to President and Report to President and

CongressCongress””National Military Strategy

Enhance our securityEnhance our security with effective with effective diplomacy and with military forces diplomacy and with military forces that are ready to fight and winthat are ready to fight and win

Bolster America'sBolster America's economic economic prosperityprosperity

Promote democracy and human Promote democracy and human rightsrights abroad. abroad.

National Military National Military Strategy*Strategy*

* National Military Strategy 1997 (CJCS)* National Military Strategy 1997 (CJCS)

Assure our allies and friends Assure our allies and friends Dissuade future military Dissuade future military

competitioncompetition Deter threats against U.S. interests, Deter threats against U.S. interests,

allies, and friends allies, and friends Decisively defeat any adversary if Decisively defeat any adversary if

deterrence failsdeterrence fails

National Military National Military Strategy*Strategy*

* National Security Strategy 2002* National Security Strategy 2002

Force management risk Force management risk Operational riskOperational riskFuture challenges riskFuture challenges riskInstitutional risk Institutional risk

National Military National Military StrategyStrategy

SECDEF Annual Report to the SECDEF Annual Report to the President/Congress 2002President/Congress 2002

NATIONAL OBJECTIVESGrand Strategy

PoliticalStrategy

EconomicStrategy

Military Strategy

OperationalStrategy

The art and science of The art and science of planningplanning, , orchestratingorchestrating, and , and directingdirecting military campaigns military campaigns within a theater of operationswithin a theater of operations to achieve National security to achieve National security objectives.objectives.

Operational Operational StrategyStrategy

Operational StrategyWhat does it do?

Links the Links the National levelNational level concerns concerns of military strategy with of military strategy with battlefieldbattlefield concerns of tactics concerns of tactics

Levels of operational strategyLevels of operational strategy Combined campaignsCombined campaigns Joint campaignsJoint campaigns Component campaignsComponent campaigns

Operational Strategy

Orchestration of Orchestration of all military all military effortsefforts in the theater in the theater

Goal is to Goal is to winwin the theater war the theater war Achieve the military objectiveAchieve the military objective Military objective contributes Military objective contributes

to the achievement of a to the achievement of a politicalpolitical objective objective

Operational Strategy

Campaigns must be appropriate Campaigns must be appropriate to the situation: Vietnamto the situation: Vietnam Linebacker II - 11 day bombing Linebacker II - 11 day bombing

campaign in Dec 1972 had a specific campaign in Dec 1972 had a specific politico-military objectivepolitico-military objective

Many victories but to little availMany victories but to little avail

Contrast American RevolutionContrast American Revolution Few victories but won Few victories but won

independenceindependence

NATIONAL OBJECTIVESGrand Strategy

PoliticalStrategy

EconomicStrategyMilitary

Strategy

OperationalStrategy

BattlefieldStrategy(tactics)

RESULTS

The art and science of The art and science of employing forces on employing forces on the battlefieldthe battlefield to to achieve National achieve National security objectives.security objectives.

Battlefield Battlefield Strategy Strategy (Tactics)(Tactics)

Battlefield Strategy (Tactics)

Very dynamic level of operationsVirtually impossible to talk about

in general termsnuclear waroperations other than warconventional warspace war information waramphibious assaultsdesert war the list goes on.....the list goes on.......

NATIONAL OBJECTIVESGrand Strategy

PoliticalStrategy

EconomicStrategyMilitary

Strategy

OperationalStrategy

BattlefieldStrategy(tactics)

threatdomestic politicsphysical environment economicstechnology

leadershipculture/societyinternational politicsgeographydoctrinefog, friction, chance

RESULTS

Influences on the Process

Who makes the decisionsWho makes the decisions Domestic politicsDomestic politics International politicsInternational politics

Fog, friction, chance Fog, friction, chance Doctrine Doctrine

The driving force behind our The driving force behind our operational and battlefield strategyoperational and battlefield strategy

MediaMediaReverse Flow Feedback SystemReverse Flow Feedback System

• National objectivesNational objectives drive the processdrive the process• An extension of vital National interestsAn extension of vital National interests

• Grand StrategyGrand Strategy incorporates and/or incorporates and/or coordinates all the instruments of National coordinates all the instruments of National powerpower

• Military StrategyMilitary Strategy supports National supports National objectivesobjectives• Must support higher strategyMust support higher strategy

• OperationalOperational and and Battlefield StrategyBattlefield Strategy must must be be flexibleflexible

• Several influences on the strategy processSeveral influences on the strategy process

Points to Remember...

Chances are you are going to Chances are you are going to meet people who do not meet people who do not understand their day-to-day understand their day-to-day missionmission

Making the connection Making the connection between day-to-day operations between day-to-day operations and national objectives is and national objectives is tough, but essentialtough, but essential

Make sure your people Make sure your people understand how their day-understand how their day-to-day mission relates to to-day mission relates to National Objectives.National Objectives.

Questions?Questions?