Great Commanders

Abstract

The command of military forces in combat is unlike any other field of human endeavor. If war is the ultimate form of human competition, then the commander is the ultimate competitor. The commander operates in an environment of chance, uncertainty, and chaos, in which the stakes are, quite literally, life and death. He or she contends against an adversary who is using every means, fair or foul, to foil his plans and bring abou this defeat. The commander is ultimately responsible for every variable that factors into military success or failuretraining, logistics, morale, equipment, planning, and execution. The commander reaps the lions share of plaudits in victory, but also must accept the blame in defeat, warranted or not. Very often the line that separates fame and ignominy is slender indeed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2012
Accession Number
AD1103796

Entities

People

  • Christopher R. Gabel
  • James H. Willbanks

Organizations

  • United States Army Combined Arms Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Combat Areas
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • Geography
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Naval Warfare
  • Personnel Management
  • Terrain
  • Topography
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Economics
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.