U.S. Army Full Spectrum Operations in the Philippine Islands, 1898-1941
Abstract
The U.S. Army's involvement in the Philippine Archipelago from 1898 to 1941 demonstrates the validity of the main tenants of current full-spectrum operations (offensive, defensive, stability, and civil support operations), and the likelihood of more than one occurring simultaneously and over a long duration of time. The U.S. Army has operated across the full spectrum of conflict -- stable peace to general war -- since 1775, but did not officially define it until February 2008. The Army has given priority in terms of resources, effort, training, and doctrine to the most threatening elements of full-spectrum doctrine: offensive and defensive operations. In past conflicts and campaigns, such as the conflict in the Philippine Islands, the U.S. Army has conducted stability and civil support operations out of necessity, but has never desired to focus resources and time to maintain its proficiency in these operations. The current operating environment has forced the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army to recognize that the spectrum of conflict is continuous and that all elements of full-spectrum operations must be viewed as equally important. Some will argue that this is a revisionist viewpoint of history that involves doctrine and terminology that were not used or understood in the past. But these opinions miss the examples present in the U.S. Army's operations in the Philippines from 1898 to 1941 that are relevant and complimentary to current full-spectrum doctrine.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA505005
Entities
People
- Stephen H. Brock Jr.
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College