The Principles of War

1. The Principles of War

2. The Principles of War “The nine principles of war provide general guidance for the conduct of war....They are the enduring bedrock of Army doctrine.” FM 3-0, 2001

3. The Principles of War BACKGROUND • Sun Tzu, Miltiades, Antoine Henri Jomini • Exploring early principles in theory and practice • J.F.C. Fuller • First detailed enumeration of principles of war in 1916 • Nine American principles of war • First published and outlined in 1921 Training Regulations No. 10-5 • First clarified in 1923 Infantry Journal articles • First officially defined in 1949 FM 100-5 • Placed in FM 3-0 • Continuing foundation of Army doctrine

4. The Principles of War 1. OBJECTIVE 2. OFFENSIVE 3. MASS 4. ECONOMY OF FORCE 5. MANEUVER 6. UNITY OF COMMAND 7. SECURITY 8. SURPRISE 9. SIMPLICITY

5. The Principles of War • OBJECTIVE: Direct every military operation toward a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable goal. • Historical example: • Union MG Hooker’s “plan of campaign” • Objective summarized: • Destroy enemy armed forces • Destroy enemy will to fight • Attain intermediate objectives: • Seize key terrain, LOCs, etc.

6. The Principles of War • OFFENSIVE: Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative. • Offensive summarized: • Seize and hold initiative • Retain freedom of action • Achieve decisive results • Adopt defensive temporarily • Use offensive-defensive • Historical example: • Confederate GEN Lee’s adoption of the offensive

7. The Principles of War • MASS: Mass the effects of overwhelming combat power at the decisive place and time. • Mass summarized: • Synchronize combat power • Strike with a closed fist • Mass effects vice just forces • Historical example: • Union MG Hooker’s turning movement

8. The Principles of War • ECONOMY OF FORCE: Employ all combat power available in the most effective way possible; allocate minimum essential combat power to secondary efforts. • Economy of force summarized: • Give all forces a purpose • Act in concert • Use delays, defense, etc. • Historical example: • Confederate MG Early’s delaying action

9. The Principles of War • MANEUVER: Place the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power. • Maneuver summarized: • Gain positional advantage • Designate and shift main effort • Reject predictable patterns • Historical example: • Union MG Hooker’s turning movement

10. The Principles of War • UNITY OF COMMAND: For every objective, seek unity of command and unity of effort. • Unity of command summarized: • Designate one responsible commander • Ensure unity of effort • Designate one common objective • Historical example: • Union MG Hooker’s reorganization of the AOP

11. The Principles of War • SECURITY: Never permit the enemy to acquire unexpected advantage. • Security summarized: • Protect the force • Know the enemy’s habits • Take necessary, calculated risks • Historical example: • Union MG Hooker’s intelligence/counterintelligence reorganization

12. The Principles of War • SURPRISE: Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a manner for which he is unprepared. • Surprise summarized: • Employ speed, deception, OPSEC, etc. • Use timing, temp, etc. • Seek even partial surprise • Historical example: • Confederate LTG Jackson’s flank march

13. The Principles of War • SIMPLICITY: Prepare clear, uncomplicated plans and concise orders to ensure thorough understanding. • Simplicity summarized: • Use simple plans • Use clear, concise orders • Recognize that simple is often difficult • Historical example: • Confederate LTG Jackson’s plan for enveloping Union right

14. Conclusion • LIMITATIONS OF THE PRINCIPLES OF WAR: • Not prescription, formula, recipe, or checklist! • May be followed or violated and either win or lose! • Guidelines only!

15. Rules of Engagement & Law of Land Warfare

16. Bases of Roe Law ROE Mission Policy

17. Rules of Engagement • Based on Foreign Policy, Law of War, and Military Objectives • Tend to be more restrictive that Law of War • Designed to provide soldiers a ‘framework’ to guide their decisions in combat

18. Rules of Engagement Definition: Directives issued by competent superior authority that delineate the circumstances and limitations under which US forces will initiate and/or continue engagement with other forces

19. Where can I find ROE? • Annex E (Rules of Engagement) of an Operation Order this detailed ROE will be in 5 paragraph format • ROE cards usually given to all soldiers in a combat zone • Paragraph 3 (Execution) Coordinating Instructions of the base order

20. Law of War

21. Customary Laws of War • Centuries of warfare resulted in these unwritten codes • General Purpose: Limit Suffering and Provide Humane treatment for those taken out of the fight

22. Hague and Geneva Conventions Hague Convention of 1907 and Geneva convention of 1949 were an effort by countries of the world to reduce customary laws of war to written, accountable form. The United States signed each of these documents and solemnly pledged to observe all provisions of these treaties.

23. Laws of War • 1. We will not inflict unnecessary destruction or suffering • We will treat prisoners of war, captured or detained • personnel, and civilians humanely. • We will not obey orders whose execution are in violation • of the laws of war. • 4. We are responsible for our unlawful acts • 5. We are entitled to humane treatment if captured

24. Medical Personnel • Military medics: • Medical personnel engaged in search for, care of transport of wounded or sick. • Staff engaged in administration of med units • Chaplains • Red Cross staff or other voluntary aid organizations

25. Medical Protected Status • Medical property, material, and equipment has a protected status under Geneva Conventions. This includes vehicles, aircraft, and buildings. • Marked with: Red Cross on white background Red Crescent • Red Lion and Sun on white background • Israel uses Star of David (not Geneva Convention) • Loss of Status: Medical equipment employed in acts harmful to the opposing belligerent

26. Prohibited Weapons • Weapons which cause unnecessary suffering • All Army issue weapons and ammunitions are tested to meet this standard • Cannot alter ammunition to cause more suffering • No use of Poison • U.S. Will use chemical weapons only as reprisal

27. Treachery and Illegal Tactics • No improper use of flag of truce, National Flags, uniforms and insignia of the enemy. • Fine line separates use of spies and illegal conduct. • One may not feign surrender to gain an advantage on enemy • Must not hide behind medical symbols

28. Case Study • WO1 Thompson at My Lai • Personal courage—whether physical, moral, or a combination of the two—may be manifested in a variety of ways, both on and off the battlefield. On March 16, 1968 Warrant Officer (WO1) Hugh C. Thompson, Jr. and his two-man crew were on a reconnaissance mission over the village of My Lai, Republic of Vietnam. WO1 Thompson watched in horror as he saw an American soldier shoot an injured Vietnamese child. Minutes later, when he observed American soldiers advancing on a number of civilians in a ditch, WO1 Thompson landed his helicopter and questioned a young officer about what was happening on the ground. Told that the ground action was none of his business, WO1 Thompson took off and continued to circle the area. • When it became apparent that the American soldiers were now firing on civilians, WO1 Thompson landed his helicopter between the soldiers and a group of 10 villagers who were headed for a homemade bomb shelter. He ordered his gunner to train his weapon on the approaching American soldiers and to fire if necessary. Then he personally coaxed the civilians out of the shelter and airlifted them to safety. WO1 Thompson’s radio reports of what was happening were instrumental in bringing about the cease-fire order that saved the lives of more civilians. His willingness to place himself in physical danger in order to do the morally right thing is a sterling example of personal courage.