5/ The Shift to "War Amongst the People" The paradigm has shifted from industrial war to war amongst the people. This new reality makes it harder to define success, identify the theatre of operations, or manage multinational strategic direction. Today’s operational artists must orchestrate not just firepower, but information and resourcesto achieve complex political goals. #FutureOfWar #InternationalRelations

4/ Manoeuvre as the Core. Historically, manoeuvre has been the antidote to static entrenchment. Whether through the corps system of Napoleon or the panzer divisions of the 20th century, the goal is to create opportunities on the enemy's flank and rear. However, the rise of superior firepower and technology-centric thinking can sometimes de-emphasize this creative, non-linear approach. #Innovation #Tactics

3/ Mastering Two "Grammars" Modern operational art requires mastering two distinct grammars. The first grammarinvolves defeating an opponent with armed force, while the second grammar deals with insurgencies and irregular warfare. Success in the first does not guarantee success in the second, as seen in conflicts like Vietnam and Iraq. #Geopolitics #History

2/ The Necessity of Strategic Alignment Without a clear strategic objective, operational art is merely "grand tactics". Proficiency on the battlefield cannot save a campaign from strategic miscalculation. A plan must include a clear "exit strategy" or termination phase to link the fighting to the desired political end state. #Leadership #StrategicPlanning

1/ Defining the "Grey Area". Operational art emerged in the nineteenth century as a distinct component of warfare, acting as the bridge between strategy and tactics. It is the systematic planning of campaigns to achieve strategic goals in a specific theatre, essentially governing tactical creativity to ensure local actions serve the broader political objective. #MilitaryStrategy #ModernWarfare

Book The Evolution of Operational Art: From Napoleon to the Present, edited by John Andreas Olsen and Martin van Creveld, provides a comprehensive overview of how military planning has bridged the gap between grand strategy and local tactics over the last two centuries. Here are 5 top takeaways from my highlights:

Next Thread on “The Evolution of Operational Art: From Napoleon to the Present”, edited by John Andreas Olsen and Martin van Creveld.

Slides 5–8

6 lessons from On Operations by @BA_Friedman in 8 slides 👇

5/ The Six Disciplines Successful operations require a harmony of specific disciplines. I’ve noted that the core requirements include administration, information, operations, fire support, logistics, and command and control. These disciplines must work together to synchronize tactical actions across time and space. #MilitaryTraining #Organization