Holistic Operational Art: A 21st Century Roadmap for Achieving Strategic and Operational Alignment and Success
Abstract
In the post-Vietnam War era, the United States Military plans and fights with the mindset of achieving theater-strategic and operational objectives through Quick Decisive Victories (QDVs). Fueled by massive advancements in technology, this strategy has lead to impressive battlefield victories, but it has failed to achieve the sought-after strategic end-states. The difference between winning the wars and winning the battles can be traced to misapplication of operational art. Theater commanders have failed to focus on a holistic view of the war and the desired strategic end-state. Instead, the focus has been on achieving almost purely military objectives that form one piece of the overall theater strategic picture. Operation Iraqi Freedom is a textbook example of this poorly applied operational art. By examining how the United States Central Command concentrated on the objective of regime change instead of the strategic end-state of a free and stable Iraq, several new and unique lessons learned can be found. With this new perspective of holistic operational art, a quick discussion of Operation Unified Assistance to help Tsunami victims in Indonesia with respect to space, time, and force provides a roadmap for future operations. Finally, several recommendations are provided for implementing holistic operational art.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 19, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA463647
Entities
People
- Adam Kijek
Organizations
- Naval War College