The War of 52 Pickup
The War of 52 Pickup
3rd Edition
Gordon S
Fowkes
Preface
Most wars start by accident, for the wrong reasons and in the wrong places with results no way near what was expected. So how does one raise and fight the forces to win when winning is usually defined late in or after the war? Perhaps bending the enemy’s will to resist should go to the states of mind and processes of
thinking as much as we do with Order of Battle and Courses of Action.
Dr Strangelove
Winning battles is a process of building up your forces to be able to tear the enemy’s down. Winning wars, however, is like 52 Pickup. You have to grab the right cards at the right time. It helps to have a good hand.
Broken Arrow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctnK7wdJmAo
Most wars start by accident, for the wrong reasons and in the wrong places with results no way near what was expected. So how does one raise and fight the forces to win when winning is usually defined late in or after the war? Perhaps bending the enemy’s will to resist should go to the states of mind and processes of
thinking as much as we do with Order of Battle and Courses of Action.
 |
Dr Strangelove |
Winning battles is a process of building up your forces to be able to tear the enemy’s down. Winning wars, however, is like 52 Pickup. You have to grab the right cards at the right time. It helps to have a good hand.
Broken Arrow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctnK7wdJmAo
Broken Arrow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctnK7wdJmAo
Coach
Carter & Tuckman’s Group
Dynamics
From “Remember the Titans”, the movie:
Fig. 02
Before there were the Titans, there was the Continental Army. The same sequence of Tuckman’s four stages shown in “Remember
the Titans” is what Von Steuben did in Valley Forge.
From “Remember the Titans”, the movie:
The story of the Tigers trip from last to state championship as shown in the movie is identical to that which the new commander
must go through. It is also a guide for what the opposing side must do, which points
the way to messing
up his game.
Fig. 02
It’s called Tuckman’s Five Stages of Group Development. Bruce Wayne Tuckman (born 1938) has carried out research into the theory of group dynamics. In 1965, he published one of his theories
called "Tuckman's stages of group development".
In addition to these taxonomies of behavior, one more is needed to spot the game in the bush, that which is described
in Transactional Analysis developed
by Dr. Eric Berne in the Fifties. While it has been used in individual (clinical) treatment, it is better suited to group dynamics.
Dr. Berne’s book on group dynamics: The Structure and Dynamics of Organizations and Groups is a classic and ought to be rigorously examined
in Political Science,
Military Science, and Sociology
more than Psychology.
Before there were the Titans, there was the Continental Army. The same sequence of Tuckman’s four stages shown in “Remember
the Titans” is what Von Steuben did in Valley Forge.
Fixing a
Broken Army (Von Steuben)
“Baron” von Steuben remains one of the best exemplar of how to take an army that just had its ass kicked from Manhattan, Philadelphia to Valley Forge. Von Steuben joined on February
5, 1778, three years after fighting had started. What he found presented a number of problems, a lack of common doctrine, poor unit cohesion, and poor performance. He was then appointed
with the temporary rank of Inspector
General with the additional caveat to fix things.
Fig.03
He addressed the problem
by selecting a hundred
men as a model company
and trained them who then became a cadre,
the doctrinal exemplar of doctrine became. He then created a “Washington’s Guard” of 120 from each of several regiments, who were trained by the cadre in order set the example in their parent regiments.
Baron von Steuben at Valley Forge
Fig.04
The problem
of no common doctrine
was due to no common manual of arms and
battle drill between the colonies. His book, “Regulations for the order
and discipline of the troops of the United
States” also known as the Blue Book became the basis for US Army doctrine
until after the War of 1812. The problem of inconsistent doctrine
is the fundamental reason for the Second
Amendment in addition
to the Specified
Power of the Congress
in providing for the regulation of the armies.
The Blue Book
Fig. 05
(IMHO) The Blue Book represents the totality of doctrine that today would take a C‐5 to haul.
That which makes the Blue Book so valuable is that it is a snapshot
of Close Order battle
which was the norm from the Battle of Kadesh to the Eve of WW 1 in which formations soldiers
in the main force fought shoulder
to shoulder. This demanded the same movements and actions for each and every soldier in the same rank. The very concept
of rank and file was a the core of close order battle until the machine gun, barbed wire, and shell fire shredded the ordered and close starting in the Crimean War and coming to full term in WW 1/
Fig. 06
Von Steuben went on to command the Southern Campaign that led to Yorktown,
and in the battles of Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse showed the combat effectiveness he instilled in the Continental Army
“Baron” von Steuben remains one of the best exemplar of how to take an army that just had its ass kicked from Manhattan, Philadelphia to Valley Forge. Von Steuben joined on February
5, 1778, three years after fighting had started. What he found presented a number of problems, a lack of common doctrine, poor unit cohesion, and poor performance. He was then appointed
with the temporary rank of Inspector
General with the additional caveat to fix things.
Fig.03
He addressed the problem
by selecting a hundred
men as a model company
and trained them who then became a cadre,
the doctrinal exemplar of doctrine became. He then created a “Washington’s Guard” of 120 from each of several regiments, who were trained by the cadre in order set the example in their parent regiments.
 |
| Baron von Steuben at Valley Forge |
Fig.04
The problem
of no common doctrine
was due to no common manual of arms and
battle drill between the colonies. His book, “Regulations for the order
and discipline of the troops of the United
States” also known as the Blue Book became the basis for US Army doctrine
until after the War of 1812. The problem of inconsistent doctrine
is the fundamental reason for the Second
Amendment in addition
to the Specified
Power of the Congress
in providing for the regulation of the armies.
 |
The Blue Book |
Fig. 05
(IMHO) The Blue Book represents the totality of doctrine that today would take a C‐5 to haul.
As it was difficult
to train a mixed
mess of trained and untrained troops in the same formation, he also establish
a graduated set of “schools”
from individual to regimental before returning
the soldier to his parent unit. Thus a balance between
centralized individual and unit cohesion was maintained. This dual approach
between individual and collective training has some very sharp edges.
That which makes the Blue Book so valuable is that it is a snapshot
of Close Order battle
which was the norm from the Battle of Kadesh to the Eve of WW 1 in which formations soldiers
in the main force fought shoulder
to shoulder. This demanded the same movements and actions for each and every soldier in the same rank. The very concept
of rank and file was a the core of close order battle until the machine gun, barbed wire, and shell fire shredded the ordered and close starting in the Crimean War and coming to full term in WW 1/
Fig. 06
Von Steuben went on to command the Southern Campaign that led to Yorktown,
and in the battles of Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse showed the combat effectiveness he instilled in the Continental Army
Dress Right, Cover Down, or Die
Changing from Carry to Fight in Shield Wall
Fig. 07
Fig. 08
Once guns were introduced, the original intent
for uniformity to keep the shields
on line became keeping those
in
the line
from
being
shot
or
bayonetted by
others
lagging behind.
Fig. 09
 |
| Changing from Carry to Fight in Shield Wall |
Fig. 07
The absolute necessity
of uniformity of individual training
with the collective was that the cohesion of the front
ranks required that everyone knew and did exactly
as expected. If one shield gave way, and not replaced,
the chances of a tipping
point into retreat
was not far behind. The Battle of Camden in 1780 (link below) is a good illustration of such panic) The Anglo‐Saxon Army under Harold Godwinson
held Senlac Hill for 12 hours, and was defeated only because one part of the shield wall broke ranks to pursue
Normans they thought
were fleeing.
Fig. 08
Once guns were introduced, the original intent
for uniformity to keep the shields
on line became keeping those
in
the line
from
being
shot
or
bayonetted by
others
lagging behind.
Fig. 09
What is called “dismounted drill” in the Services
today is what remains of battle drill. This was considerably more complicated before
WW 2 than it is today.
PANIC AND
ROUT
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Close order fighting had the
advantage of cohesion due to Mirror Neurons which cause an animal and humans to
copy or emulate the behaviors of the group. This extends to mimicking the
speech patterns of the crowd you are with. Leveraging this factor is essential
in accustoming the soldier to the collective patters in operations of the unit.
Working on any team effort benefits any other. The olfactory (smell) of the
group bypasses all other sensory inputs and can reinforce or demolish the
desired behavioral
The downside of “mirror neurons”
when added with the smell of fear cause panic. When I was a Sergeant in the Infantry,
my Company Commander had a “panic drill”. He would have the First Sergeant
attack the company, which triggered one soldier to toss his rifle and run
yelling. Another soldier suddenly leaped to his feet and ran. As did the rest
of the company like popcorn in the wind.
The panicked one with the rifle was
in on it, the second was told to do what the first did. I have used this drill
with the same results several times in my career. This “panic drill” accustomed the soldier to
that eventuality and was taught how to deal with it, one of which was not to
run after the first one.
The Continentals with Mel Gibson in the Patriot shows in two battles the difference in following of the wrong paradigm with one that won. The Battle of Camden 1780 shows the results of a well trained and drilled British Army defeating the unready American Army that had a large number of militia units not trained in face to face close order battle.
The Battle of Cowpens 1781 used the expectation that the militia would flee to ensnare the British into a trap placed on the reverse slope of the Militia "fled" to.
Fig.11
The importance of tight formations and precise drill are still with us in formal parades.
In older times before Flanders and Passchendaele, what we see on a parade ground was in fact, battle drill. Having marched in the University
of California ROTC Drill Team and commanded
the UCLA ROTC drill time, I have a keen appreciation of the time and effort
it takes to drill even a dozen,
let alone several
thousand. The North Korea spiffy drills must divert an inordinate amount of calories from a starving nation, just to look good on parade.
Fort Leonard Wood, Engineer Training Brigade
Fig.12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NhGiSQdg-k
The “Hell March” series has the same soundtrack but highlight
the precision of marching
carried over from the battle necessities prior to WW 1. Stirring
as they are, they add about zip to combat formations. The principle
influences affecting many armies today come from the British
model or the German model “goose step”.
The slow marching step is for precise alignment in close order combat
Indian Army Hell March (British style) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9DsvAFDxcE
The German Goose step was passed on by military advisors exported by Imperial, Republican and Nazi German armies.
This is particularly true of South America
Fig.13
Since Libya was an Italian
colony, the running
tradition of a double time (running step) may have been passed by way of Gadhafi’s support to modern terrorists.
Precision drill is good for instilling discipline, coordination with others, and good physical exercise. It has some not so good side effects: It has little to do with combat skills,
individual or collective. It instills an obsession
with appearance and neatness, and it absorbs
huge amounts of time. Natural
selection over the thousands
of years that close order battle
was effective also naturally
selected the neat freak (anal retentive).
Close order fighting had the
advantage of cohesion due to Mirror Neurons which cause an animal and humans to
copy or emulate the behaviors of the group. This extends to mimicking the
speech patterns of the crowd you are with. Leveraging this factor is essential
in accustoming the soldier to the collective patters in operations of the unit.
Working on any team effort benefits any other. The olfactory (smell) of the
group bypasses all other sensory inputs and can reinforce or demolish the
desired behavioral
The downside of “mirror neurons”
when added with the smell of fear cause panic. When I was a Sergeant in the Infantry,
my Company Commander had a “panic drill”. He would have the First Sergeant
attack the company, which triggered one soldier to toss his rifle and run
yelling. Another soldier suddenly leaped to his feet and ran. As did the rest
of the company like popcorn in the wind.
The panicked one with the rifle was
in on it, the second was told to do what the first did. I have used this drill
with the same results several times in my career. This “panic drill” accustomed the soldier to
that eventuality and was taught how to deal with it, one of which was not to
run after the first one.
The Continentals with Mel Gibson in the Patriot shows in two battles the difference in following of the wrong paradigm with one that won. The Battle of Camden 1780 shows the results of a well trained and drilled British Army defeating the unready American Army that had a large number of militia units not trained in face to face close order battle.
The Battle of Cowpens 1781 used the expectation that the militia would flee to ensnare the British into a trap placed on the reverse slope of the Militia "fled" to.
Fig.11
The importance of tight formations and precise drill are still with us in formal parades.
In older times before Flanders and Passchendaele, what we see on a parade ground was in fact, battle drill. Having marched in the University
of California ROTC Drill Team and commanded
the UCLA ROTC drill time, I have a keen appreciation of the time and effort
it takes to drill even a dozen,
let alone several
thousand. The North Korea spiffy drills must divert an inordinate amount of calories from a starving nation, just to look good on parade.
 |
| Fort Leonard Wood, Engineer Training Brigade |
Fig.12
Parade Grounds are for Parades,
not drills anymore, but they are still spiffy. Once upon a time a century
ago, how a unit drilled
on the parade ground was a reflection of how good their battle drill was. Not anymore. It is a good sign to watch the North Korean
and Chinese marching drills as energy taken away from combat training:
Chinese military
precision drill,
precision personified.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NhGiSQdg-k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NhGiSQdg-k
The “Hell March” series has the same soundtrack but highlight
the precision of marching
carried over from the battle necessities prior to WW 1. Stirring
as they are, they add about zip to combat formations. The principle
influences affecting many armies today come from the British
model or the German model “goose step”.
British Army: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-s26lBcu_M
The slow marching step is for precise alignment in close order combat
Indian Army Hell March (British style) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9DsvAFDxcE
The slow marching step is for precise alignment in close order combat
Indian Army Hell March (British style) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9DsvAFDxcE
The German Goose step was passed on by military advisors exported by Imperial, Republican and Nazi German armies.
This is particularly true of South America
Fig.13
Since Libya was an Italian
colony, the running
tradition of a double time (running step) may have been passed by way of Gadhafi’s support to modern terrorists.
Precision drill is good for instilling discipline, coordination with others, and good physical exercise. It has some not so good side effects: It has little to do with combat skills,
individual or collective. It instills an obsession
with appearance and neatness, and it absorbs
huge amounts of time. Natural
selection over the thousands
of years that close order battle
was effective also naturally
selected the neat freak (anal retentive).
Nevertheless, the retention of the marching styles of old is visible
evidence of a state of discipline as tradition reflects hard training standards of old. Combat veterans march better than those with no combat experience, the verse, however doesn't always work.
Fig. 14
World War I, the Paradigm Shifts from Close Order to Open Order Battle.
Trench Warfare
Passchendaele, the defensive paradigm:
And the futility of frontal infantry attacks at the Battle of the Somme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0V1yRrjMmM
World
War I started out with formations still trained to fight in close order. The
butchery that came from the trench, barbed wire, grazing machine gun fire, and
plunging high explosive artillery rounds, utterly wiped out armies on all
sides. The telegraph allowed the generals the illusion of control over forces
miles away, and away from the gore. Since the default way of war was more, and
more men in columns of units on line. One following the one before. This was
why the battles of Antietam, Spotsylvania, and the Wilderness bled America dry.
One General Emory Upton tried to change to a more flexible way of fighting with
success when he was in charge. Upton later wrote on the subject of improving
the odds in the battles to come. Then he committed suicide
Despite the slaughter, the fascination with close order combat lingers on. The Soviet system of warfare retained the practice of sending waves of successive lines of units into battle. These have been called "Second Echelon" forces which are not true reserve forces. Most other forces outside US Transformation retain a reserve of a third or more of forward forces.
The problem that
plagues modern military forces is that close order prettiness is deeply
ingrained in the top down neatness at a time when the eclectic and effective
wins. The neat (anal retentive) will not disappear, and cannot be expected to know that that
battle is messy. The demand for order in the chaos of that is normal ironically
requires the skills and obsession of the Anal Retentive to ensure that the
parts fit close enough, supplies and support are where they need to be, and
that attention to things like lost nails for horse shoes are not.
World War I, the Paradigm Shifts from Close Order to Open Order Battle.
 |
| Trench Warfare |
Passchendaele, the defensive paradigm:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0V1yRrjMmM
World
War I started out with formations still trained to fight in close order. The
butchery that came from the trench, barbed wire, grazing machine gun fire, and
plunging high explosive artillery rounds, utterly wiped out armies on all
sides. The telegraph allowed the generals the illusion of control over forces
miles away, and away from the gore. Since the default way of war was more, and
more men in columns of units on line. One following the one before. This was
why the battles of Antietam, Spotsylvania, and the Wilderness bled America dry.
One General Emory Upton tried to change to a more flexible way of fighting with
success when he was in charge. Upton later wrote on the subject of improving
the odds in the battles to come. Then he committed suicide
Despite the slaughter, the fascination with close order combat lingers on. The Soviet system of warfare retained the practice of sending waves of successive lines of units into battle. These have been called "Second Echelon" forces which are not true reserve forces. Most other forces outside US Transformation retain a reserve of a third or more of forward forces.
The problem that
plagues modern military forces is that close order prettiness is deeply
ingrained in the top down neatness at a time when the eclectic and effective
wins. The neat (anal retentive) will not disappear, and cannot be expected to know that that
battle is messy. The demand for order in the chaos of that is normal ironically
requires the skills and obsession of the Anal Retentive to ensure that the
parts fit close enough, supplies and support are where they need to be, and
that attention to things like lost nails for horse shoes are not.
Open Order Battle:
 |
| WW 2 - The Eastern Front |
Then there is my war, Vietnam with the 1st Air Cavalry Division 68-69
Thunder Road, Vietnam 68-69
Entering War Zone C with the 2/2 Mechanized Infantry, 1st Inf Div
F100 Air Strike on VC forces causing us some problems.
101st Airborne Reinforcements in War Zone C
Modern, as in as of now, is messy, confusing, and you only know what is going on a stones’
throw away.
Fig. 15
US in Iraq: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS28568DPZU
Fig, 16
The neat and orderly dispersion of these ISIS troops reflects their Iraqi Republican Guard military cadre
Fig. 17
Then there is my war, Vietnam with the 1st Air Cavalry Division 68-69
Thunder Road, Vietnam 68-69
 |
| Entering War Zone C with the 2/2 Mechanized Infantry, 1st Inf Div |
 |
| F100 Air Strike on VC forces causing us some problems. |
 |
| 101st Airborne Reinforcements in War Zone C |
Modern, as in as of now, is messy, confusing, and you only know what is going on a stones’
throw away.
Fig. 15
US in Iraq: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS28568DPZU
Fig, 16
The neat and orderly dispersion of these ISIS troops reflects their Iraqi Republican Guard military cadre
Fig. 17
Mind Shafting
Fig 17A
Hunters
vs Farmers
Fig 17A
Hunters
vs Farmers
The close order combat formations came largely from those civilizations based on agriculture, particularly those
whose survival depended
upon irrigation systems requiring considerable organization talent and neatness. The additional advantage of the Farmer Soldier is that the farms produced more calories per acre than did hunting
grounds.
By way of contrast the Warrior who brought the hunter
sets of skills in which neatness is counterproductive.
The conflict between
Hunter and Farmer
is a constant dissembler of cohesive action. Hunters ramble in a geometrically precise culture, they don’t fit on farms for long.
Fig. 18
Recent work on the origins of ADHD have included the concept
of a conflict between hunter and farmer ways of thinking.
Some in India hold that the hunter’s mind is an older mind, that the farmer’s
mind became the expected default. The hunter must be ever on the alert for food and to
avoid being food, which when emerges energizes an intense focus
and drive on the object of catching the food or evading
the threat. This constant shifting of attention in a world where sticking
to the task at hand without distraction, has outlawed
the hunter as a sick person in need of imprisonment, execution or medication.
Dr Sigmund Freud vs the Reich
Fig 19
In addition to sorting out farmers and hunters, Dr Freud devised a typology for individual psychology that is eminently suited to job interviews, staff meetings, and any level of leadership. It is simple and easy to used. It also applies to enemy leadership and proclivities.
Dr Sigmund Freud devised a simple system that helps identify several major personality types whose manner of doing things is readily predictable, given few clues. There is the Oral Blabber Mouth like myself). The Anal Asshole (both retentive and explosive) whose obsession with order and neatness (one cleans up messes, the other makes them). And and the Phallic Prick who trusts no one and is dangerous to trust.
The default dominant type in banks, most bureaucracies, and military forces is the Anal Retentive. They go through their careers cleaning up messes, and if a mess is not there, they will find one. The mess clearance factor is like the Farmer's obsession with avoiding mistakes, The clue is the overly neat desk. And thus into the Valley of Death rode the 600 of the British Light Cavalry neat as a pin, and arrayed in rows of targets on a battlefield ringed by guns.
Charge of the Light Brigage
Fig. 20
The flip side of the Anal is the Anal Expletive, I prefer Anal Explosive who, unlike their obsessively neat cousins, they look for clean things to crap on. We call them inspectors, professors, and investigative reporters. The incestuous interface betwixt the two cousins can consume an entire budget without production or profit.
ATTENTION DIVERSITY DYNAMICS (ADD)
The US Army rejects those with ADD due to the necessity to scan constantly and not get fixated on any one thing. This behavior is necessary in a hunters world to get the game and not be one. The farmer has to maintain a steady focus on the task at hand and not be distracted. Historically, those with hunter's minds have been assigned tasks such as reconnaissance and security missions as well as light cavalry where things happen in an instant.
Consequently in the process of raising or fixing an army it is important to know that both, even in the extreme
are equally valuable to combat effectiveness. Since the Hunter and the Farmer have such different agendas, they do not mix well or at all.
I commanded an MI Battalion
in the Army Reserves
that included Electronic Warfare
(Radio Intercept and finding) and Military Intelligence elements (order of battle,
interrogation, counter intelligence, and imagery interpretation). MI differs from the default
other soldiery in that the soldiery can be trained like a dog, or horse, while leading MI soldiers
is like herding cats. It therefore is important for the Commander
to provide the cats with a challenge and good “food”.
Fig. 21
As such the commander of any given unit must be able to spot the cats from dogs, hunters
from warriors,
and the Oral,
Anal, and Phallic personalities in the Unit. , Each has strengths
and weaknesses different from others, so getting
the strengths of one to over the weaknesses of the others, is both management and leadership. You don’t put a farmer in a hunter’s war.
Absent clear order and in a chaotic circumstance, they are either unable to
make a decision or stick to a doomed course of action as did McClellan at
Antietam..
Midway
Consider the states of mind of the Japanese admirals at Midway: Admiral Nagumo dithers on the report of an American carrier forcing the decision of which of two divergent objectives be met: Midway or the Carrier.
Japanese fighter cover had been engaged in the destruction of Torpedo Squadron 8, and were out of position at the moment the US diver bombers arrive on station.
And the initiative taken by Admiral Yamaguchi of the Hyru's counter attack with what was left.
And then there was the Charge of the Light Brigade when the blithering idiots changed blinding into the Valley of Death.
Recent work on the origins of ADHD have included the concept
of a conflict between hunter and farmer ways of thinking.
Some in India hold that the hunter’s mind is an older mind, that the farmer’s
mind became the expected default. The hunter must be ever on the alert for food and to
avoid being food, which when emerges energizes an intense focus
and drive on the object of catching the food or evading
the threat. This constant shifting of attention in a world where sticking
to the task at hand without distraction, has outlawed
the hunter as a sick person in need of imprisonment, execution or medication.
Since the Hunter and the Farmer have such different
agendas, they do not mix well or at all. The US Army rejects those with ADHD for that reason
despite their superiority in open and mobile battle.
The military profession attracts, promotes and retains the Anal Retentive which is why obsolescence in appearance is so prevalent
Dr Sigmund Freud vs the Reich
Fig 19
In addition to sorting out farmers and hunters, Dr Freud devised a typology for individual psychology that is eminently suited to job interviews, staff meetings, and any level of leadership. It is simple and easy to used. It also applies to enemy leadership and proclivities.
Dr Sigmund Freud devised a simple system that helps identify several major personality types whose manner of doing things is readily predictable, given few clues. There is the Oral Blabber Mouth like myself). The Anal Asshole (both retentive and explosive) whose obsession with order and neatness (one cleans up messes, the other makes them). And and the Phallic Prick who trusts no one and is dangerous to trust.
Dr Sigmund Freud devised a simple system that helps identify several major personality types whose manner of doing things is readily predictable, given few clues. There is the Oral Blabber Mouth like myself). The Anal Asshole (both retentive and explosive) whose obsession with order and neatness (one cleans up messes, the other makes them). And and the Phallic Prick who trusts no one and is dangerous to trust.
The default dominant type in banks, most bureaucracies, and military forces is the Anal Retentive. They go through their careers cleaning up messes, and if a mess is not there, they will find one. The mess clearance factor is like the Farmer's obsession with avoiding mistakes, The clue is the overly neat desk. And thus into the Valley of Death rode the 600 of the British Light Cavalry neat as a pin, and arrayed in rows of targets on a battlefield ringed by guns.
 |
| Charge of the Light Brigage |
Fig. 20
The book by Dr. Norman Dixon “On the Psychology of Military Incompetence”, Dr. Norman’s thesis is that in Britain
the potty training in British Public Schools
create the Anal Retentive whose behavior while otherwise
stellar, cannot make a decision
in muddy waters, or who sticks to the wrong one. Thus the Farmer Anal Retentive can be counted on to freeze under the pressure in the fact of uncertainty....like 9-11 where the advance intelligence did not have the flight numbers, which precluded proactive measure.
The flip side of the Anal is the Anal Expletive, I prefer Anal Explosive who, unlike their obsessively neat cousins, they look for clean things to crap on. We call them inspectors, professors, and investigative reporters. The incestuous interface betwixt the two cousins can consume an entire budget without production or profit.
ATTENTION DIVERSITY DYNAMICS (ADD)
The US Army rejects those with ADD due to the necessity to scan constantly and not get fixated on any one thing. This behavior is necessary in a hunters world to get the game and not be one. The farmer has to maintain a steady focus on the task at hand and not be distracted. Historically, those with hunter's minds have been assigned tasks such as reconnaissance and security missions as well as light cavalry where things happen in an instant.
ATTENTION DIVERSITY DYNAMICS (ADD)
The US Army rejects those with ADD due to the necessity to scan constantly and not get fixated on any one thing. This behavior is necessary in a hunters world to get the game and not be one. The farmer has to maintain a steady focus on the task at hand and not be distracted. Historically, those with hunter's minds have been assigned tasks such as reconnaissance and security missions as well as light cavalry where things happen in an instant.
Consequently in the process of raising or fixing an army it is important to know that both, even in the extreme
are equally valuable to combat effectiveness. Since the Hunter and the Farmer have such different agendas, they do not mix well or at all.
I commanded an MI Battalion
in the Army Reserves
that included Electronic Warfare
(Radio Intercept and finding) and Military Intelligence elements (order of battle,
interrogation, counter intelligence, and imagery interpretation). MI differs from the default
other soldiery in that the soldiery can be trained like a dog, or horse, while leading MI soldiers
is like herding cats. It therefore is important for the Commander
to provide the cats with a challenge and good “food”.
Fig. 21
As such the commander of any given unit must be able to spot the cats from dogs, hunters
from warriors,
and the Oral,
Anal, and Phallic personalities in the Unit. , Each has strengths
and weaknesses different from others, so getting
the strengths of one to over the weaknesses of the others, is both management and leadership. You don’t put a farmer in a hunter’s war.
Absent clear order and in a chaotic circumstance, they are either unable to
make a decision or stick to a doomed course of action as did McClellan at
Antietam..
Midway
Consider the states of mind of the Japanese admirals at Midway: Admiral Nagumo dithers on the report of an American carrier forcing the decision of which of two divergent objectives be met: Midway or the Carrier.Japanese fighter cover had been engaged in the destruction of Torpedo Squadron 8, and were out of position at the moment the US diver bombers arrive on station.
And the initiative taken by Admiral Yamaguchi of the Hyru's counter attack with what was left.
And then there was the Charge of the Light Brigade when the blithering idiots changed blinding into the Valley of Death.
Brain Waves and Body Language
Some recent work on the neurologic effect on behavior can be applied significantly upon why proven training and fighting methodologies worked. Even for animals, without MOSQ.
Fig.
22
Some recent work on the neurologic effect on behavior can be applied significantly upon why proven training and fighting methodologies worked. Even for animals, without MOSQ.
Survival in nature is closely tied to how close the one can read the signals of the rest, this is sometimes called teamwork, or conformity, or mob psychology. Or all of them. Humans naturally have a more complex
neurological need for company, as do many animals. Isolation is devastating.
Many facial expressions and body language differ between cultures or even cliques in school.
Fig.
22
Hence the uniform and the School of the Soldier (salutes, marching, posture, war fighting face, etc.).
Facial expressions, tone of voice and body language are key to communication within or between groups. Some say over 90% of communication is nonverbal. This is at the core of Coach Carter’s segregation on the basis of defense/offensive teams while effecting inter‐racial cohesion. Carter also trained his team as a team, unlike some who like rotating
building blocks.
Mirror Neurons
Fig.
23
Child's Play as Battle Drill
Fig.
24
Fig.
23
The mechanism that enhances cohesion is from what are called “mirror neurons” which are found throughout the nervous system. This applies to any group effort, even though the specific tasks of the individuals differ from each other, the mind takes in how the rest worked. Later, these deep seated memories activate when the individual several years later has a different
job (like a Bn CO) knows what to do.
Child's Play as Battle Drill
Fig.
24
Children play in order to learn the basic survival skills of their own species and group. Play is in effect battle drill including actions upon meeting the enemy. That includes climbing into trees or diving into holes to get away from the predator. Combat skills are played with the inborn caveat that the claws and teeth to not tear the other.
GUTS
In addition, the process of leading and fighting goes to the workings of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) which affects the body with a chemical
juggling act. The ANS is divided into the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic System. As it pertains to combat, the default reaction of fight, flight or freeze is the exact opposite
of what is needed. The default is Parasympathetic, which must be countered by the Sympathetic System.
Fig.
25
Zazen breathing to invoke the Relaxation Response
Fig.
26
For those in leadership positions, the clarity of the relaxed mind is far more efficient that one consumed with doubts and fear. Thus the image of the true warrior is both serene and deadly. Let the body do the fighting. Some sing as they go to battle as in Zulu.
Some simply remain calm, cool and collected, as in the gun vs knife duel in Magnificent Seven:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU-paVv6zTk
Or in "Zatoichi"
In this duel, one sees the games people play which are as deadly as can be.
Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman
Fig.
27
In addition, the process of leading and fighting goes to the workings of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) which affects the body with a chemical
juggling act. The ANS is divided into the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic System. As it pertains to combat, the default reaction of fight, flight or freeze is the exact opposite
of what is needed. The default is Parasympathetic, which must be countered by the Sympathetic System.
Fig.
25
The default is to narrow the field of view, draw the blood away from the extremities, and prepare to repair damage with cholesterol. The methods of calming the mind include drill until the motion is automatic and requires no conscious thought. Thinking out loud in the head interferes with the relaxation process and the effective use of trained responses. The key is to quiet the brain and let the body to fight. The key is deep breathing. Belly breathing, not with the upper chest.
 |
| Zazen breathing to invoke the Relaxation Response |
Fig.
26
For those in leadership positions, the clarity of the relaxed mind is far more efficient that one consumed with doubts and fear. Thus the image of the true warrior is both serene and deadly. Let the body do the fighting. Some sing as they go to battle as in Zulu.
Some simply remain calm, cool and collected, as in the gun vs knife duel in Magnificent Seven:
Or in "Zatoichi"
In this duel, one sees the games people play which are as deadly as can be.
 |
| Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman |
Fig.
27
GAMES PEOPLE
PLAY
Transactional Analysis (TA)
Transactional Analysis (TA)
A fire fight is a transaction betwixt
two or more. So are conversations and
other transactions. The field of Psychology called Transactional Analysis
(TA) is the study of the psychology behind those transactions. TA is best used in “normal psychology” applied
to normal people, and for those without advanced degrees or time for the quagmire of Clinical Psychology of "abnormal psychology". As mad as war is, it occurs normally like clockwork. And combat is a lot of transactions of all sorts and sizes.
Only one in six of everybody is free of dents and we call them Saintly. The one sixth on the other end of the scale cause 80% of all the problems. That leaves two thirds in the middle. That equates to two Standard Deviations, one above and one below the mean.
That’s the normal. However you measure it, inches, IQ, or test scores.
Parent, Adult, Child (PAC)
In trying to psyche out an opponent or defuse a problem
in the ranks the TA structure
of Parent (P), Adult (A) and Child (C) or PAC becomes useful
in determining where they are “coming
from”. And where they want to go:
The gutted gunfighter was acting out of his Child Ego state, acting out a child's version of what a heroic fighter should be. One could say that he was stuck in his childhood.
fig 27a
Fig. 28
Effective communication leverages all three, leaving
one out weakens the message.
In another lifetime, I was a PSYOP officer charged with recruiting for my own unit, the 5th PSYOP Group (Strategic), Army Reserve in
DC. I recruited a team of
lopsided and creative people who
could analyze a target audience, determine the motivating factors (PAC), develop the message and media, and put it into effect.
This included TV and Radio spots, displays at local malls using a PSYOP truck (loudspeakers, printers, and movie and TV screens) and follow up on the feedback.
Fig. 29
The Child Ego State is the most complex as it is where the fun and adventure
of life is. Or as a bummer. The Child “plays” at being an Adult or a Parent.
And it is in play, that the young learn the Rules. It is the fun and joy part that makes
life worth living
for, or dying for.
Fig 30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCjBOZ4r9Ck
Understanding drama is that in drama,
no one is using the Adult, that of dealing with facts. It’s the Buzz of Parental
(Mother‐Father; Nurture‐Protect) ego states that rule the roost, and all below.
I have called it “Buzziology”
Fig. 31
Additional work by TA specialists have developed a hierarchy
of role switching starting with Games and going to Rackets and Life Scripts. A great deal of leadership is the identification of what games and rackets are being played.
The Dark Side (Villainous) often is carried on indefinitely from God only knows when ‘til now.
Fig 32
HABITS & CULTURES
If one was to hunt
deer or ducks, one would find out the habits of the aforesaid deer or ducks.
Where they eat, where they sleep, and … move about. These habits that are
intended to raise the odds of survival as in getting laid and paid. They may be
individual or collective, and when collective they constitute the “survival
culture” of the group. Thus the group (most likely to be a primary group –
those that hang around or work together). This is referred to in my other posts
as “F4F”.
A fire fight is a transaction betwixt
two or more. So are conversations and
other transactions. The field of Psychology called Transactional Analysis
(TA) is the study of the psychology behind those transactions. TA is best used in “normal psychology” applied
to normal people, and for those without advanced degrees or time for the quagmire of Clinical Psychology of "abnormal psychology". As mad as war is, it occurs normally like clockwork. And combat is a lot of transactions of all sorts and sizes.
Only one in six of everybody is free of dents and we call them Saintly. The one sixth on the other end of the scale cause 80% of all the problems. That leaves two thirds in the middle. That equates to two Standard Deviations, one above and one below the mean.
That’s the normal. However you measure it, inches, IQ, or test scores.
Some people don’t grow up, save to fake it. They often display behaviors more appropriate to a child. The inconsistency between adult reason,
parental injunction, and childlike behavior in a given behavior can be sensed by those looking for it. This provides
a sight picture
of strengths and weaknesses.
Parent, Adult, Child (PAC)
Parent, Adult, Child (PAC)
In trying to psyche out an opponent or defuse a problem
in the ranks the TA structure
of Parent (P), Adult (A) and Child (C) or PAC becomes useful
in determining where they are “coming
from”. And where they want to go:
fig 27a
Fig. 28
Effective communication leverages all three, leaving
one out weakens the message.
In another lifetime, I was a PSYOP officer charged with recruiting for my own unit, the 5th PSYOP Group (Strategic), Army Reserve in
DC. I recruited a team of
lopsided and creative people who
could analyze a target audience, determine the motivating factors (PAC), develop the message and media, and put it into effect.
This included TV and Radio spots, displays at local malls using a PSYOP truck (loudspeakers, printers, and movie and TV screens) and follow up on the feedback.
We filled our own unit in short order, then were asked to recruit for the 2290th USAR General Hospital in Rockville, MD. My analysis showed that the RULE
(P) that worked was nurture and protection, the Child (C) reacted to the appeal of being
a rescuer, and the
ADULT facts was the telephone number of the 2290th. The video
we produced later won the Keith L Ware Army wide award for television production.
The Theme of the operation was “From Birth to the Battlefield, the Fight for Life goes on”.
Further analysis of TA for military
purposes goes to a second and third order of refinement. The Parent Ego state has two basic sides reflecting the Mother/Father dichotomy, that of Nurture and that of Protect. The impact of culture
on the Parent produces multi‐generation sets of RULEs, in F4F this is the FATE rule book. This includes
the dark side of the Child being a victim lashing out as a villain which carries across generations and nations.
The Child Ego State is the most complex as it is where the fun and adventure
of life is. Or as a bummer. The Child “plays” at being an Adult or a Parent.
And it is in play, that the young learn the Rules. It is the fun and joy part that makes
life worth living
for, or dying for.
The Dark Side of TA occurs when the Young are abused verbally and/or physically, and adapts to a dysfunctional world as a Villain (Murderous, Manipulative, Mad; Vicious, Vindictive, Vain)
 |
Fig 30
Angela Lansbery as Mother:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCjBOZ4r9Ck
Understanding drama is that in drama, no one is using the Adult, that of dealing with facts. It’s the Buzz of Parental (Mother‐Father; Nurture‐Protect) ego states that rule the roost, and all below. I have called it “Buzziology”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCjBOZ4r9Ck
Understanding drama is that in drama, no one is using the Adult, that of dealing with facts. It’s the Buzz of Parental (Mother‐Father; Nurture‐Protect) ego states that rule the roost, and all below. I have called it “Buzziology”
Drivers, Rackets, and Scripts are the sum of games that are played over a predictable course, and to a predictable end. This is useful to the G2.
Fig. 31
Additional work by TA specialists have developed a hierarchy
of role switching starting with Games and going to Rackets and Life Scripts. A great deal of leadership is the identification of what games and rackets are being played.
The Dark Side (Villainous) often is carried on indefinitely from God only knows when ‘til now.
Fig 32
HABITS & CULTURES
If one was to hunt
deer or ducks, one would find out the habits of the aforesaid deer or ducks.
Where they eat, where they sleep, and … move about. These habits that are
intended to raise the odds of survival as in getting laid and paid. They may be
individual or collective, and when collective they constitute the “survival
culture” of the group. Thus the group (most likely to be a primary group –
those that hang around or work together). This is referred to in my other posts
as “F4F”.
The Family is the most common form of Primary Group
Applied to Military Intelligence:
http://gordonswar.blogspot.com/2013/08/tea-leaves-goat-entrails-or-f4f-it.html
F4F has four levels: Biological (Food and Family),
Psychological (Roles), Sociological (Rules) and Technological (Tools). F4F is neither grid nor check list, it is more like a key board tied to an enigma. Hit any key and follow
the tangle until a picture
tied to survival
is clear. All behavior related to survival
has the greatest impact on performance, including
suicide.
Fig. 33
Actually, the roles
that “They” play are the offense while those of “Y’all” are defensive. Switching from Blue to Red describes
daily interface. Each time a Role is switch vis a vis someone
else’s Role, there is a “Pay Off” or Reward closely related to the Gotcha Game. The central mechanism is the rotation
of the central Drama of Victim, Rescuer or Prosecutor. Sometimes all Six Roles can be played by a single party. We call that Propaganda, Public Relations, and/or Politics.
THE SICK CHILD (not OK)
Seat of all evil
Fig 34
Stamp collecting is central to the understanding of supportive, seductive, and/or seditious behavior
of groups and individuals. Nazi propaganda is the purest
of examples of a full use of all six roles the hero plays plus the six attributed to the bad guys. Central
to the complete package is the switch
of the Victim to that of Prosecutor because
of said villainy.
When reviewing ISIS terrorism one must determine what kind of stamps they are collecting, and to what part of the sick child is being stroked. In this case, the"Jew" is portrayed in the Villain (Murderous, Manipulative, and Mad) in an assault on the Rules in protecting and nurturing the family.
Fig. 35
Rules for the use of the Role switches
and Role supporting include two broad
sets, that of Social Status and that relative
to the Physical World.
Fig 36
Fig 37
In the assessment of your people and any your will deal with as friends or enemies can be analyzed
to determine the vulnerabilities and strengths of each.
Fig. 38
Martyrdom is the reward
for the Hero, and a curse on the Villain(s). Killing the enemy often makes them stronger.
Thus Martyrdom is a White Stamp for purity and essence of vital bodily fluids.
Fig. 39
The Family is the most common form of Primary Group
Applied to Military Intelligence:
http://gordonswar.blogspot.com/2013/08/tea-leaves-goat-entrails-or-f4f-it.html
F4F has four levels: Biological (Food and Family), Psychological (Roles), Sociological (Rules) and Technological (Tools). F4F is neither grid nor check list, it is more like a key board tied to an enigma. Hit any key and follow the tangle until a picture tied to survival is clear. All behavior related to survival has the greatest impact on performance, including suicide.
Fig. 33
Actually, the roles
that “They” play are the offense while those of “Y’all” are defensive. Switching from Blue to Red describes
daily interface. Each time a Role is switch vis a vis someone
else’s Role, there is a “Pay Off” or Reward closely related to the Gotcha Game. The central mechanism is the rotation
of the central Drama of Victim, Rescuer or Prosecutor. Sometimes all Six Roles can be played by a single party. We call that Propaganda, Public Relations, and/or Politics.
THE SICK CHILD (not OK)
Seat of all evil
Fig 34
Stamp collecting is central to the understanding of supportive, seductive, and/or seditious behavior
of groups and individuals. Nazi propaganda is the purest
of examples of a full use of all six roles the hero plays plus the six attributed to the bad guys. Central
to the complete package is the switch
of the Victim to that of Prosecutor because
of said villainy.
When reviewing ISIS terrorism one must determine what kind of stamps they are collecting, and to what part of the sick child is being stroked. In this case, the"Jew" is portrayed in the Villain (Murderous, Manipulative, and Mad) in an assault on the Rules in protecting and nurturing the family.
When reviewing ISIS terrorism one must determine what kind of stamps they are collecting, and to what part of the sick child is being stroked. In this case, the"Jew" is portrayed in the Villain (Murderous, Manipulative, and Mad) in an assault on the Rules in protecting and nurturing the family.
Fig. 35
Rules for the use of the Role switches
and Role supporting include two broad
sets, that of Social Status and that relative
to the Physical World.
These Rules
can be remembered not by any new acronym, but by one’s
own body language
in which the lineage
and connections of the Roles as in a keyboard,
to play out the story line. This is the cartoon version:
Fig 36
And this is the Family version:
Fig 37
In the assessment of your people and any your will deal with as friends or enemies can be analyzed
to determine the vulnerabilities and strengths of each.
The current use of Suicide
Bombers can be explained using F4F. The key question is “just how does a Suicide
Bomber get Laid and Paid, or Dinner
and a Date”?
The Fate (Source
of Authority)
comes from a dogma that places the bomber
on a mission to rescue Islam (Women and Children) from Villainy by the “Crusaders” by prosecuting them with death, manipulation and faith (mad).
For this the Suicide
bomber is rewarded
by a number of virgins in Heaven, and the family
is rewarded by those in charge. And the family gains Face and Fame for having
sacrificed for the cause.
We call them Blue Star Mothers.
This is called “Rewards
and Punishments” in your basic behavioral modification algorithm (fines, spanking,
candy or bonuses). In addition
to the analyses of Farmer‐Warrior, and of Freudian taxonomy (blabbermouth, asshole, prick) their
interplay in Game Playing
in Drama can be doped out to identify those in the way or the way ahead.
Fig. 38
Martyrdom is the reward
for the Hero, and a curse on the Villain(s). Killing the enemy often makes them stronger.
Thus Martyrdom is a White Stamp for purity and essence of vital bodily fluids.
Fig. 39
The Law of the Inverse
Attribution Reflex (LIAR)
As a vital analytical aid to identify the most destructive of persons is the Law of the Inverse Attribution Reflex (LIAR). Game Playing can be done consciously, Inverse Attribution is from the edge of the sub‐conscious in charge of Covering One’s Ass which in reality, blows the cover
story. The Braggart brags of his weakest virtues, and Blames others with his worst vice.
Fig. 40
Tribal
Structure
Competing Groups (Formal and
Informal)
SPQR
Fig. 41
Fig 42
1. Palace Court – Authority
Fig 43
Those above
are capable of infinite combination and alteration.
The Hunter
and Farmer study the Tribal Structure and the interplay between its Centers of
Gravity to exploit or protect the bottom card(s) in the Village house of cards.
Fig 44
As a vital analytical aid to identify the most destructive of persons is the Law of the Inverse Attribution Reflex (LIAR). Game Playing can be done consciously, Inverse Attribution is from the edge of the sub‐conscious in charge of Covering One’s Ass which in reality, blows the cover
story. The Braggart brags of his weakest virtues, and Blames others with his worst vice.
This is of great value during an election
by the amount of passion exerted
by a candidate’s platform expressed as what he/she is for (actually against) and what he/she is against (actually
for). This dichotomy
is strongest when most emotional. The True Liar lies to himself
more than others.
The importance of LIAR in intelligence is that an enemy (or friend)
reveals their own weakness by what they brag about, and their worst by what they blame you for. Works four times out of five.
It also can be used in internal management in determining the disruptive behaviors and complaints from within.
Fig. 40
Tribal
Structure
Competing Groups (Formal and
Informal)
1. Warriors – War Chief – Firepower
2. Priests – Chief Priest – Information
3. Good Old Boys – Council of Elders -
Permission
4. Money Makers – Guilds, corporations, unions
5. The Rest – Don’t care or don’t matter
 |
| SPQR |
Fig. 41
Agents of change or not
(Mess with the above)
1. General Contractors – the power to alter
the earth
2. Scribes – the power to define and regulate
the world
3. Bare & Bar - the power to grease the
squeaking wheel.
4. Court Jester – Ass kisser.
5. Secretary – the power to control access.
6. Hen House – Where the power really resides
(parallel dimension)
7. Trickster, Charlatan, Consultant - tailors
the emperor’s new clothes.
Fig 42
The Force (The
medium)
1. Blood – DNA - His or Theirs.
2. Money – Convertible blood or power.
3. Power – The offer that cannot be refused.
4. Untouchable, Invincible, Invisible.
Internal Structure
(Org and Flow Charts)
1. Palace Court – Authority
2. Markets & Ports - Commerce
3. City Walls - Defense
4. Estates - Ostentation
5. Temples – Heaven or Hell
6. Mines and Fields – Raw Materials
7. Arts & Crafts – Production of Wealth
Fig 43
Those above
are capable of infinite combination and alteration.
The Hunter
and Farmer study the Tribal Structure and the interplay between its Centers of
Gravity to exploit or protect the bottom card(s) in the Village house of cards.
Fig 44
KICK ASS!
Fourth
Battle of Kawanakajima, 1561 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3j1iWJiI_c
Fig 45
Being an old soldier with mishaps, adventures, reverses and an occasional miracle, I’ll stick
with what worked
for me in military,
political, economic,
and every once in a while personally. That’s what I got from the US Army:
Fourth
Battle of Kawanakajima, 1561 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3j1iWJiI_c
Fig 45
Being an old soldier with mishaps, adventures, reverses and an occasional miracle, I’ll stick
with what worked
for me in military,
political, economic,
and every once in a while personally. That’s what I got from the US Army:
The Principles of leadership
Fig 46
Fig. 47
The Principles of War
Fig 48
Leadership Traits
Fig
49
Fig
50
ASS KICKING
Fig 51
Fig 46
Fury,
Leadership at its best.
Fig. 47
The Principles of War
Fig 48
Leadership Traits
Fig
49
On the short list, Management is the allocation of resources through processes to outputs/results. Leadership occurs when the troops own the process
and proud of the results.
Sometimes one must kick ass and hope not to have to kiss ass to get what you need.
ASS KICKING
Battle of Tsushima
Fig 51
THE FACTORS
BEARING ON WAR ‐ METT‐TH
*This is based on the combat proven “METT” (Mission,
Enemy, Terrain, Troops available) Time and Civilian considerations –TC) have been added, which unfortunately is at root of poor performance in the current
unpleasantness. METT‐TH gives a better high with Technology and Habits (TH)
Terrain analysis can get quite involved,
I was a “squint” (Imagery Interpreter –II) in a previous
life and terrain analysis
was one of the major skill sets we had to get good at. Absent imagery, a pair of hands does well to analyze and discuss the tactical aspects of the ground you are on.
Fig 52
Everyone on the battlefield or close to one, should be constantly analyzing the terrain in view, with the possible courses of action that will demand actions
and orders. Being ready for everything must be done at the subconscious or habitual levels. Otherwise the brain will have to undergo
a refit.
Fig 53
Red Cliff, a John Woo film covering the full range of a Full Spectrum, Whole of Government war strategy, the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd0bqLQrtdE
*This is based on the combat proven “METT” (Mission,
Enemy, Terrain, Troops available) Time and Civilian considerations –TC) have been added, which unfortunately is at root of poor performance in the current
unpleasantness. METT‐TH gives a better high with Technology and Habits (TH)
TERRAIN (plus
Weather and Time)
In short, it is impossible to change an acronym except
in order to clutter the mind and get some REMF an MSM. Such was the case with Terrain Analysis which had the acronym COCOA which is easier to pronounce
than the new but has the exact same characters as does OCOKA* except
that the word Critical
Terrain was changed to Key Terrain with no substantial difference.
Terrain analysis can get quite involved,
I was a “squint” (Imagery Interpreter –II) in a previous
life and terrain analysis
was one of the major skill sets we had to get good at. Absent imagery, a pair of hands does well to analyze and discuss the tactical aspects of the ground you are on.
Fig 52
Everyone on the battlefield or close to one, should be constantly analyzing the terrain in view, with the possible courses of action that will demand actions
and orders. Being ready for everything must be done at the subconscious or habitual levels. Otherwise the brain will have to undergo
a refit.
Terrain
affects who can see or shoot at or not, how well the terrain affects
movement. Movement
is the primary
factor in deciding what can be done where, otherwise the terrain is scenery. There are five handy terrain
features using the hand as a tool: ridges,
valleys, passes, hills and holes. The holes are usually
filled with water,
which either sits still (lakes)
or moves like a river.
The water that moves, like rivers, move downhill until evaporated, absorbed or reach the oceans. So long as it moves, it provides
the equivalent structure we call forks (passes), fingers,
rivers, and deltas which in turn look like a splayed
out hand.
Fig 53
One can move with the grain (rivers or rivers) with greater ease than cross corridor
or fording. Consequently the control
of movement goes to who controls
forks and passes. This however is inherently low ground,
so the terrain that provides observation and fields of fire. That means high ground (most of the time) which goes to the slogan “TAKE THE HIGH GROUND”
Ridges and Rivers that run perpendicular to where YOU and/or
THEY wish to move, can act as OBSTACLES
as well as COVER and CONCEALMENT. National boundaries often run along rivers and/or ridges. In the case of navigable
rivers and the associated drainage patterns define the life of nations, such as the US:
The shape of the drainage
patters is normally shown on most maps. It’s knowing
what pattern produces what ridges
are where. The conjunction of rivers and ridges produces
passes and fords where history likes to fight battles, that over who gets to move where.
Red Cliff, a John Woo film covering the full range of a Full Spectrum, Whole of Government war strategy, the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd0bqLQrtdE
Red Cliff, a John Woo film covering the full range of a Full Spectrum, Whole of Government war strategy, the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd0bqLQrtdE
Maneuver
Fig 54
Illustrated narrative of this remarkable example of operating in interior lines against a vastly superior force. For professionals only.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph8ni6EHnRQ
The Geometry of the Geography
Fig 55
Fig 56
Animals
on the move follow these rules, and it is the trails of goats, cattle,
deer and the antelope that humans have followed, then upgraded by moving the earth that’s
in the way. Hiking, biking,
and camping trails
usually follow pre‐existing animal trails, because the way follows
the least steep, and around obstacles. These are natures’ Lines of Communication.
Fig 57
The scale of the trail doesn’t
matter whether in range of grenade or incoming rocket. The slopes are relevant to the distance observed. That which are ridges
on large scale
maps dissolve into other ridges,
larger and smaller... Matching the trajectory and range of your weapons to the slope and shape of the ground in range, is the fine are of staying
alive. Consequently the professional student of war and economics studies
the usages of the past.
Fig 54
The finest example of maneuver is in the Battle of Chancellorsville between Confederate Generals Lee and Jackson's Army of Northern Virginia in a battle to defend a river line against Union General Hooker's Army of the Potomac.
Illustrated narrative of this remarkable example of operating in interior lines against a vastly superior force. For professionals only.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph8ni6EHnRQ
Illustrated narrative of this remarkable example of operating in interior lines against a vastly superior force. For professionals only.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph8ni6EHnRQ
The Geometry of the Geography
Fig 55
The drainage
patterns of rivers and their associated ridges define the easiest way to move goods, supplies,
troops and/or people. We call these Lines of Communication. LOC for short. The lowest gradient (the least steep) gets the movement. Sharp
variations of gradient produce bypasses and switchbacks.
Fig 56
Animals
on the move follow these rules, and it is the trails of goats, cattle,
deer and the antelope that humans have followed, then upgraded by moving the earth that’s
in the way. Hiking, biking,
and camping trails
usually follow pre‐existing animal trails, because the way follows
the least steep, and around obstacles. These are natures’ Lines of Communication.
CRTICAL or KEY
TERRAIN:
The
Cookie Jars and Lines of Communication
Collecting Cookie Jars and the routes between is at the core of the operational art of war. (getting there). Aerial interdiction campaigns are directed at the routes, forks, gaps, and gathering places of the enemy's logistical jugular arteries.
The Cookie Jar is that which retention or
control of is seriously important. It may be something of value itself such as
a seat of government, manufacturing, and supplies. It may be terrain that
controls movement on roads or rivers by sitting on it or looking down on it
(Lines of Communication). Where the mode of transportation changes such as
airfields, ports, and yards is a choke point. They are located at passes,
harbors, forks, and places where goods must change mode of transportation
Harper's Ferry
Fig 58 Harper's Ferry
The Cookie Jar is that which retention or control of is seriously important. It may be something of value itself such as a seat of government, manufacturing, and supplies. It may be terrain that controls movement on roads or rivers by sitting on it or looking down on it (Lines of Communication). Where the mode of transportation changes such as airfields, ports, and yards is a choke point. They are located at passes, harbors, forks, and places where goods must change mode of transportation
 |
| Harper's Ferry |
The High Ground
Cookie jars and the
lines of communication (LOC) between them are controlled by whomever controls
the high ground (observation, field of fire, etc.). The Railroad and paved roads changed the river
and valley default use for movement of troops and supplies to a paradigm where
the movement now included the High Ground as avenues of approach and logistics (Gas,
Ammo, Spare Arrows, and Hard Tack)
From a view from the
top, the logistical structure of a force looks like a tree which has a trunk
with both roots and branches following the path of least resistance. A river
system has the same look as in drainage and delta patterns at the sea. Sometimes getting at the root of things is
often done from top down, when the trunk is the heart of the matter. This is the aim of the present air campaign against ISIS, as it was against the German rail system and fuel production in WW 2, the campaign against the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and the Union Blockades and River operations in the Civil War.
Fig 59 Cutting the VC LOC along the Saigon from Cambodia.
Fig 60
(IMHO‐RC
only) Jomini’s Art of War is that which be put to memory
as the first of its kind that has lasting impact to this day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82_lNcKwToo
The preferred object of maneuver
is cut the lines of communication and the supply
bases behind an enemy, the further back the better. The panic potential
is greater the farther back.
US and ISIS operations in Iraq produced
panics wherein the forward forces over ran the rear.
61
Fig 61
FDR, with the fires in Pearl still smoking:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82_lNcKwToo
TECHNOLOGY and THE TACTICAL IMPERATIVE
Fig 62
The Means is what parts of the body are on the giving and receiving end with regard to what Modes. The Duel is one on one for speed, accuracy and range. The Defend is what happens if that doesn't work, the Attack to deal with the Defense and the Counter Attack to deal with the Attack. Simple version is grouped by Stimulus and Response.
The tactical imperatives selected may only work for an instance, a blink of the eye, or may form the basis of an entire tactical system, like chain link or plate armor against ever increasing ability to hit and penetrate. Spaced "Chobham" armor on modern tanks is the "Absorb:" option while bar armor is the "Intercept" option. With the Iron Dome an Intercept, Catch, and Penetrate option against mortar rounds and rockets.
Fig 63
The tactical imperatives selected may only work for an instance, a blink of the eye, or may form the basis of an entire tactical system, like chain link or plate armor against ever increasing ability to hit and penetrate. Spaced "Chobham" armor on modern tanks is the "Absorb:" option while bar armor is the "Intercept" option. With the Iron Dome an Intercept, Catch, and Penetrate option against mortar rounds and rockets.
Battle of Rourke’s Drift:
The spear and the shield,
a popular combo on battlefields since before
the Battle of Tamalpais.
Fig 64
Agile and light doesn’t
always work. It depends upon what the other guy’s got.
Fig 65
The P‐38 was faster than but less maneuverable than Japanese Zeros. The tactic used to combat
the more maneuverable Zero was to dive through
and away to preclude the Zero’s tighter turning
radius and rate of climb. Bong’s specialty
was a deflection shot from an angle. Those who are into computer war games know more than I concerning the intricacies of air to air combat.
Poland’s
Winged Hussars against Swedish infantry with guns. Excellent portrayal of the wall and the charge,
spear and the shield (Patton). The present day guidon for company sized units is the last vestige of the Pike which replaced the Spear shortly after the Crusades. Pike and Shot ruled until the bayonet was added to the musket.
The tactical
milieu is what the balance of imperatives work out to be in a given instance
or a short period of time. While Roman legions
retained their basic structure
and fighting styles for centuries from Republic to Empire, the changes come too fast to predict with any degree of certainty. What is certain is that it will change, often unexpectedly and suddenly.
Winston Churchill in the Battle of Omdurman of the last full cavalry charge of the British Army: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6UmKsqz6aQ
And do watch the subsequent clips from the film "The Lighthorsemen" where mounted infantry charged under Turkish gunfire to take Beersheba.
The shock effect of horse cavalry was also sensitive to the alignment of the attacking forces as it hit the enemy. The faster the charge, the more scattered the charge would be. Some cavalry forces as in the Crusader Era often walked their horses so that all the spear points would hit the enemy line at once. Cromwell's cavalry in the New Model Army charged stirrup to stirrup.
Horse cavalry
was used successfully in the thirties in China, Spain, Poland
and many other wars. The mass produced truck
by the US skipped
around the effort to raise and train horses.
The Soviets and the Germans were still heavily
dependent on horses for transport and combat. The horse, however, still retains certain
advantages over wheeled
or tracked vehicles as in woods.
Winged Hussars:
Poland’s Winged Hussars against Swedish infantry with guns. Excellent portrayal of the wall and the charge, spear and the shield (Patton). The present day guidon for company sized units is the last vestige of the Pike which replaced the Spear shortly after the Crusades. Pike and Shot ruled until the bayonet was added to the musket.
The tactical milieu is what the balance of imperatives work out to be in a given instance or a short period of time. While Roman legions retained their basic structure and fighting styles for centuries from Republic to Empire, the changes come too fast to predict with any degree of certainty. What is certain is that it will change, often unexpectedly and suddenly.
Winston Churchill in the Battle of Omdurman of the last full cavalry charge of the British Army: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6UmKsqz6aQ
The shock effect of horse cavalry was also sensitive to the alignment of the attacking forces as it hit the enemy. The faster the charge, the more scattered the charge would be. Some cavalry forces as in the Crusader Era often walked their horses so that all the spear points would hit the enemy line at once. Cromwell's cavalry in the New Model Army charged stirrup to stirrup.
Horse cavalry was used successfully in the thirties in China, Spain, Poland and many other wars. The mass produced truck by the US skipped around the effort to raise and train horses. The Soviets and the Germans were still heavily dependent on horses for transport and combat. The horse, however, still retains certain advantages over wheeled or tracked vehicles as in woods.
TIME
Time belongs
under Terrain which also includes weather (WX), light data, and terrain. As in when does the sun come up, and when does it get dark.
The Principle of the Objective
The supreme art of war is winning without fighting or so said Sun Tsu. This goes to picking the right objective that alters the enemy's will to resist what you want them to do. Battle is normally focused on smashing something , grabbing something and/or bragging about it to someone. That someone or something should have a bearing on the ability and/or willingness to oppose you will. This includes both the carrot and the stick. This includes undermining, overriding and manipulating the enemy to do something stupid.
This is what happened when Doolittle raided Tokyo. The effects were marginal at best, except that it goaded the Japanese to attack Midway, the naval turning point of the war. Destroying the US fleet doomed Japan the moment the first bomb hit Pearl Harbor.
The concept of bombing the enemy until they drive out their "evil" regime skips over the part where the locals will take the evil they know from the hell from the sky. Fire bombing did not deter Hitler, but it motivated Hirohito to stage a palace coup. Precision strikes on "terrorist" networks and nodes miss the point where the terrorist relies on redundant nodes and networks that shift as the winds of war.
Fig 66
If it was only a matter of smash, grab and/or brag, stick to organizes sports or computer games, as the human factor is more complex. The Morris and Janowitz study of Cohesion and Disintegration of the Wehrmacht in Normandy found that as long as the primary group was intact, no amount of inducement would break their willingness to fight. Once that happened, all that was needed was the place, time and manner of surrender on an official looking document.
Groups come in two flavors: Primary and Secondary. The family is the typical primary groups where relations (husband, wife, child) are ends unto themselves. As a familiar group increases, distinctions such as status become means to ends.
As Veterans from operations in Afghanistan know brothers fight brothers, families fight families, villages, clans and tribe against each other, but domestic squabbles are the most dangerous for outsiders to mess with. Ask you local police. Father beats wife, cop beats father, wife brains cop with frying pan.
Planning
goes to three levels: Tactical, Operational, and Strategic. Current US doctrine holds that these equate to levels
of command. I find that all three are present
at any level.
The Strategic
Bombing Campaign on Germany
in WW 2 was expected to destroy enough
of Germany’s war making
potential would break
Hitler’s Triumphant Will. He shot himself as the Soviet
Army pillaged, plundered
and raped Berlin.
The original phases
of the late operations in Iraq started out with the same winning
war fighting system
but with the erroneous conclusion that taking
the capitol of a nation was like capture the flag. The bloody shirt of ISIS hides the cohesion
with which they fight, and distracts
its enemies with their focus on the blood.
Fig 67
The supreme art of war is winning without fighting or so said Sun Tsu. This goes to picking the right objective that alters the enemy's will to resist what you want them to do. Battle is normally focused on smashing something , grabbing something and/or bragging about it to someone. That someone or something should have a bearing on the ability and/or willingness to oppose you will. This includes both the carrot and the stick. This includes undermining, overriding and manipulating the enemy to do something stupid.
This is what happened when Doolittle raided Tokyo. The effects were marginal at best, except that it goaded the Japanese to attack Midway, the naval turning point of the war. Destroying the US fleet doomed Japan the moment the first bomb hit Pearl Harbor.
The concept of bombing the enemy until they drive out their "evil" regime skips over the part where the locals will take the evil they know from the hell from the sky. Fire bombing did not deter Hitler, but it motivated Hirohito to stage a palace coup. Precision strikes on "terrorist" networks and nodes miss the point where the terrorist relies on redundant nodes and networks that shift as the winds of war.
This is what happened when Doolittle raided Tokyo. The effects were marginal at best, except that it goaded the Japanese to attack Midway, the naval turning point of the war. Destroying the US fleet doomed Japan the moment the first bomb hit Pearl Harbor.
The concept of bombing the enemy until they drive out their "evil" regime skips over the part where the locals will take the evil they know from the hell from the sky. Fire bombing did not deter Hitler, but it motivated Hirohito to stage a palace coup. Precision strikes on "terrorist" networks and nodes miss the point where the terrorist relies on redundant nodes and networks that shift as the winds of war.
Groups come in two flavors: Primary and Secondary. The family is the typical primary groups where relations (husband, wife, child) are ends unto themselves. As a familiar group increases, distinctions such as status become means to ends.
As Veterans from operations in Afghanistan know brothers fight brothers, families fight families, villages, clans and tribe against each other, but domestic squabbles are the most dangerous for outsiders to mess with. Ask you local police. Father beats wife, cop beats father, wife brains cop with frying pan.
Planning
goes to three levels: Tactical, Operational, and Strategic. Current US doctrine holds that these equate to levels
of command. I find that all three are present
at any level.
Centers of Gravity
(COG)
Centers of Gravity are supposed to be that which war is waged. Clausewitz changes his concept of one COG to several by the end of his book. Part of the problem is that operating "around" a COG which only the good guys know, assumes that the enemy does not know his own COG, and that his enemy (good guys) do.
COGs shift as does the shifting tactical imperatives and cohesion of the faithful and loyal. As such, COG's should include biological, psychological, sociological as well as technological imperatives concerning the enemy as well as friends and neighbors.
This may include the right mix of tactical imperatives, the selection of the right geometry, right scheme of maneuver, right selection of courses of action in terms of capabilities and vulnerabilities. That which is right may either fragment or fuse the enemy in the time and place for the offer that cannot be refused. Deception is the basis of all war says Sun Tzu, but he wasn't talking about the self deception. It all matters to all the parties is what comes after:
COGs shift as does the shifting tactical imperatives and cohesion of the faithful and loyal. As such, COG's should include biological, psychological, sociological as well as technological imperatives concerning the enemy as well as friends and neighbors.
This may include the right mix of tactical imperatives, the selection of the right geometry, right scheme of maneuver, right selection of courses of action in terms of capabilities and vulnerabilities. That which is right may either fragment or fuse the enemy in the time and place for the offer that cannot be refused. Deception is the basis of all war says Sun Tzu, but he wasn't talking about the self deception. It all matters to all the parties is what comes after:
What Comes After
The carrot often works better than the stick. The trick is using a carrot that can’t be stuck in your rear. Something that allows the forces and key factions
a way to save face. Winner and loser. That is why there have been formalities of surrender in the years after the Thirty Years War.
Fig
68
In 1941, the invading Germans were treated as liberators:
Fig
69
Then came the occupation.
In 1941, the invading Germans were treated as liberators:
And the reprisals to that
CIVIL AFFAIRS AND MILITARY GOVERNMENT (CAMG)
WW 2 in both theaters of war had extensive preparations for the occupation of Japan, Austria, and Germany
by virtue of having Civil Affairs
and Military Government (CAMG) units and personnel plus a core of experienced persons from government. That which we put down in the late Forties
is still there, that which we put down last year is gone.
Fig 70
On the other hand:
If Field Marshall von Rumsfeld had been a German:
Fig 71
Fig 72
What If?
Few today realize
that if any accommodation between the UK and Germany would likely either neutralized the British Navy, or created a nightmare
scenario that a Nazi dominated navy could have included
the French and British navies in addition
to Italy’s. That would have compromised the Middle East, Suez and India as well as the British
possessions in the Pacific. Canada
would be problematic. This all didn’t
happen in part because the French fleet opted out and left the Med to Italians.
Fig 73
As it was, the SS attracted
citizens of occupied, POWs and nations
allied with the Axis into its ranks who fought with distinction against the Soviets. These included an entire
Army, the “Russian Liberation Army” led by a former Soviet Field Marshal,
Andre Vlasov. The Battle
of Berlin was defended to the end by the French SS Division, Charlemagne, and a Polish
Cossack Division.
Fig 74
The Man in the High Castle, trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzz_6dmv03I
The German
General Staff approached the British before the Invasion of France to see if they would support a coup. The offer was ignored,
Poland was invaded and the rest is history. After
the Vietnam War had been over a while,
some French and the Vietnamese victors were comparing notes,
and found that there wasn’t as much of a difference that could not have been overcome.
But that’s wishful thinking.
Fig 75
The bottom line goes to the fact that while battle
may be like Poker but war is 52 Pickup.
It’s the difference between
the quick and the dead.
Fig 76
The Man in the High Castle, trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzz_6dmv03I
No comments:
Post a Comment