Enhancing the Future Strategic Corporal
Abstract
To meet the challenges of tomorrow's wars, Western countries will need highly mobile, well equipped, and versatile forces capable of multidimensional coalition missions and mastery of persuasion, coercion, and violence across a complex spectrum of conflict. Although the prospect of a high intensity conventional conflict can not be lightly dismissed, the predominant characteristics of future war will be those characteristics most often associated with small wars and operations other than war. That is, future war is going to be highly complex, lethal, chaotic, asymmetric and increasingly politicized. And, the pervasive presence of the media will ensure the accelerated dissemination of any negative action. Increasingly, success or failure is going to rest with junior leaders who will daily make dozens of tactical decisions that have the potential to erode the political and operational credibility and legitimacy of an operation. The capacity to fight and win in such an environment, therefore, will be greatly increased by enhancing and sustaining the professional mastery of the junior leader--the Strategic Corporal. This paper argues that in preparing for future war, innovative armies can not rely only on structural changes or technological innovations to ensure a decisive edge.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA507697
Entities
People
- T. M. Scott
Organizations
- Marine Corps University