The Military Role in Combating COVID-19 April 22, 2020
There is a bewildering amount of official guidance on the role of the military in circumstances such as the current pandemic. But the practical impact of that guidance, whatever it…
Read moreMilitary Doctrine
The Urgency of Military History April 7, 2020
The task of the military historian differs from that of the academic historian because military history has an operational dimension. It is supposed to help inform current military operations with…
Read moreLife Underground: US Army Subterranean Operations November 21, 2019
Subterranean operations involving the use of tunnels and underground facilities pose growing challenges to the U.S. military, a new Army manual indicates. “Today, over 10,000 known…
Read moreArmy Playing Cards Feature Iranian Weapons August 21, 2019
In a not very subtle sign of the times, the U.S. Army has produced a deck of playing cards featuring weaponry used or held by Iran in order…
Read moreDoD Doctrine on Nuclear Operations Published, Taken Offline June 19, 2019
The Joint Chiefs of Staff briefly published and then removed from public access a new edition of their official doctrine on the use of nuclear weapons. But a public copy…
Read moreUSAF Seeks “Resilient” Nuclear Command and Control April 24, 2019
The US Air Force last week updated its guidance on the command and control of nuclear weapons to include protection against electromagnetic pulse and cyber attack, among other changes. See …
Read moreContractors: All Major Military Operations Rely on Them March 13, 2019
Military contractors are such an integral part of U.S. military forces that “most military operations will include contracted support,” a newly updated Pentagon manual explains. In…
Read moreMilitary Deception: A Handbook February 27, 2019
Military tacticians use deception to induce an opponent to act against his own interests, or to refrain from acting when it would be advantageous. The theory and techniques of military…
Read moreDefense Primers, and More from CRS January 7, 2019
“The President does not need the concurrence of either his military advisors or the U.S. Congress to order the launch of nuclear weapons,” the Congressional Research Service reminded readers…
Read moreReligious Support to Military Funerals November 29, 2018
The US Army has issued updated guidance on military funerals that notably emphasizes freedom of religion and individual choice. “The Army requires the capability to provide…
Read more