Today I read an article that resonated with my recent focus on the relationships between tactical expertise, incompetence, disciplined self-study, and complacency among tactical leaders. In the article, the author writes that the US Army’s superior power and dominance over the past 70 years has profoundly impacted our culture and the way in which we approach battle – we expect to win, as we have mass and technology on our side.

He, like many, assert that this period of relative dominance is ending and we may find ourselves in an unenviable position, wherein we possess inferior numbers, technology, or doctrine. Unsurprisingly, this is cause for concern. We have to be ready at any given moment. Are we? Will we be?

My perspectives are very much biased by my experience as both an OPFOR Troop Commander and an OC/T at the National  Training Center. The extent to which many tactical leaders experience failure is deeply unsettling. While the author of the article propose introducing something more akin to the kobayashi maru at the CTCs to break out of our comfort zone (a necessary catalyst for the development of expertise) and develop adaptive leaders, we struggle to defend against an OPFOR attack with 1:1 force ratios. While I’d agree that success requires us to think outside the box, I’m unconvinced that we know the dimensions of the box. I firmly believe that we need to establish a foundation of tactical knowledge to serve as the point of departure first.

I’ve come to entertain the idea that perhaps we dismiss many of the potential lessons learned at CTCs due to perceptions of the level of realism of the DA environment. If true, it might serve to explain the lack of a sense of urgency surrounding the need for tactical and technical expertise. Thoughts?

A final potentially troubling indicator is the lack of passionate discussion and debate on tactics among the community. Looking to increase opportunities to engage in a community of practice, several leaders have started Agoras, Drink & Thinks, forums, and other groups for tactical leaders. Yet these seem limited when compared to the size of the body of professionals in our military. As a very simplistic exercise in thought, I often compare forums about tactics in video games against professional forums of which I am a part. A glance at sample forums for tactically-focused video games shows users engaged in passionate debate and discussion about force composition, identifying opportunities for offensive action, capabilities and the proper employment of weapon systems, and what works or does not work in the today’s meta (think operational environment). Where is our comparable forum for those types of discussions – one-stop shops to engage other professionals on the tactical level of war? If it doesn’t exist, is it due to a lack of demand?

I’m interested to hear your thoughts on whether you think a proper level of urgency exists within the formation. Additionally, I encourage you to share your resources for developing tactical proficiency so as to increase awareness of those opportunities.

Discussion Questions

1. How confident are you in our tactical formations’ ability to fight and win in tomorrow operational environment? Is there cause for concern or an increased sense of urgency?

2. How confident are you in your own tactical abilities to lead, fight, and win? Where do you go to develop your technical and tactical skills?

3. What is your perception on tactical success or failure at the CTCs? Do lessons learned come with a caveat?