What Change Can Do for an Army

Abstract

This monograph investigates the consistent presence of change as a decisive factor in the history of warfare. It asserts that the phenomenon of change, in and of itself, can be an important contributor to battlefield success. Change can be realized as innovation in technology, environment or doctrine. Its effect are the materiel results of the innovation, the additional advantage realized before the opponent develops and effective response and the dislocating shock effect that may result from battlefield confrontation with the unexpected. Mankind as a whole is generally slow to respond to innovation, providing a period of time in which an innovator can benefit. This conservatism is reinforced by factors common to most large military orgainizations. Certain conditions are necessary for an Army to capitalize on the effects of change. Many of these conditions exist in the U.S. Army today. The remainder can be developed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA174245

Entities

People

  • David S. Blodgett

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Civil War
  • Classification
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Doctrine
  • First World War
  • Guns
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • New York
  • Training
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Economics
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.