1. NATURE OF WAR
Major Carlos Rascon

2. SOURCES Preston/Wise, Men In Arms, pp. 5-14 MCDP-1, Warfighting
Luvaas article

3. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Know and understand the 9 principles of War.
Understand the function and importance of the threads of continuity.
Know the 5 levels of War
Be able to discuss basic definitions as related to warfare.

4. PRINCIPLES OF WAR Mass Objective Offensive Surprise Economy of Force
Movement
Unity of Command
Security
Simplicity
Foot-stomp knowledge of acronym.

5. MASS
Concentrates combat power at the decisive time and place

6. OBJECTIVE
Directs military operations toward a defined and attainable objective that contributes to strategic, operational, or tactical aims.

7. OFFENSIVE The use of initiative in combat to set the time, place, and
direction of attack.

8. SURPRISE Strikes the enemy
at a time or place or in a manner for which they
are unprepared.

9. ECONOMY OF FORCE DISTRIBUTING AVAILABLE FORCES IN THE MOST
ADVANTAGEOUS
MANNER

10. MANUEVER DEFINED -MOVING FORCES IN A TACTICAL MANNER
ESSENTIAL TO COMBAT POWER
REQUIRES FLEXIBILITY

11. UNITY OF COMMAND ALL FORCES WORKING TOWARD ONE COMMON GOAL
BEST ACHIEVED BY ONE COMMANDER
INTENT

12. SECURITY PREVENTS SURPRISE DENIES INFORMATION TO THE ENEMY
RETAINS INITIATIVE
HOMELAND DEFENSE

13. SIMPLICITY
Avoids unnecessary complexity in preparing, planning, and conducting military operations.
K.I.S.S.

14. THREADS OF CONTINUITY WAR IS EVERCHANGING
PROVIDE STRUCTURE AND A COMMON REFERENCE TO THE CHANGES IN THE ART OF WAR
TWO TYPES- INTERNAL/EXTERNAL

15. INTERNAL RELATE TO THE MILITARY DIRECTLY Professionalism Tactics
Operations
Strategy

16. EXTERNAL
RELATE TO THE GREATER SOCIAL ASPECT IN WHICH THE MILITARY EXISTS
POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS
SOCIAL FACTORS
ECONOMIC
TECHNOLOGY

17. LEVELS OF WAR
POLITICAL
OPERATIONAL
STRATEGIC
TACTICAL
TECHNICAL

18. POLITICAL Establish goals and policies for which war must be fought
Shape warfare on a global level
Geneva convention

19. OPERATIONAL Governs the way campaigns are planned and conducted
The link between strategic and tactical

20. STRATEGIC THE STRATEGY USED IN BATTLE TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY
GOAL IS TO SECURE THE OBJECTIVE

21. TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN WEAPONS SYSTEM
PIONEERING AND CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY

22. TACTICAL TECHNIQUES USED TO WIN BATTLES AND ENGAGEMENTS
THE ACTUAL FIGHTING OCCURS HERE

23. SUMMARY “MOOSEMUSS” THREADS OF CONTINUITY INTERNAL EXTERNAL
5 LEVELS OF WAR
POLITICAL
OPERATIONAL
STRATEGIC
TECHNICAL
TACTICAL

24. QUESTIONS?