Strategy Education for Winning in a Complex World: An Evaluation Study of the Army University
Abstract
The 21st Century Security environment facing the United States is characterized by adversaries who employ complex combinations of military and non-military means to achieve traditional military objectives short of conflict, while simultaneously preparing the theater for war. The Army Operating Concept (AOC) win in a complex world, provides the Army's conceptual approach to counter the threat. The Army University (AU) is the education component to achieving the AOC. The AU Strategic Plan states that the Army education system does not adequately address the complex 21st Century security environment. Graduates of Army Field Grade (FG) Officer Professional Military Education (PME) are challenged with developing a theater military strategy that effectively counters adversary concepts, doctrines, strategies and forms of warfare in the geographic combatant command theaters. The purpose of the study is to identify the knowledge, motivation, and organization performance gaps preventing the U.S. Army War College (USAWC), as the Army lead for strategy education, from developing curriculum that supports the AOC. Such curriculum should educate USAWC students to be capable strategists and theater-strategic planners for duty at 3 and 4-Star Headquarters, where the U.S. military confronts adversaries employing complex and novel forms of warfare in the competition phase. Data was collected through surveys, interviews, document analysis, and classroom observations at the USAWC. Findings revealed that USAWC Faculty have knowledge and motivation gaps that prevent fully supporting the AOC with an effective strategy education curriculum. Findings also revealed organizational gaps in resources, goal setting, and culture that prevent goal attainment. The study provides recommendations to address validated performance gaps.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 05, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1105250
Entities
People
- Arthur N. Tulak
Organizations
- University of Southern California