The Shortest Way Home: Risk and the Airland Battle

Abstract

This monograph examines current Army written doctrine to determine if it adequately incorporates risk. AirLand Battle Doctrine, as written, requires prudent risk taking and an atmosphere to support it. In order for the written doctrine concerning risk to be adequate, it must incorporate current theories regarding risk and its relationship to battle. The monograph first uses the experiences of the 4th Armored Division in World War II to illustrate consistent, effective risk taking, at all levels of command in a mid-to-high intensity environment. Next, current theories of risk are discussed and applied to the theory of war to determine how risk must be incorporated into military decision making. Finally, written doctrine for tactics and leadership is examined with respect to risk theory in order to address adequacy. Keywords: Risk, Information, Military tactics, Military doctrine, Leadership, Command and control systems, Armor, Decision making.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 27, 1989
Accession Number
ADA225463

Entities

People

  • James K. Greer

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artillery
  • Combat Operations
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Human Behavior
  • Leadership
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • Military Tactics
  • New York
  • Risk
  • Second World War
  • Security
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control