STUDY MILITARY HISTORY

Importance of military professionals to take time out from their busy schedules to study military history

Importance of military professionals to take time out from their busy schedules to study military history

Introduction

It is important that military professionals in today's Army study military history. Studying military history will not provide the military professional with an exact template on how to conduct warfare; however, I believe that it does offer opportunities to explore the thought processes and the decisions of commanders faced with difficult circumstances. When a leader is confronted with uncertainty, it is important that he be capable of creative thought and ingenuity to defeat the enemy. This article will explore the relevance of studying military history for the modern military professional and the vital role logistics plays in ultimate success or failure on the battlefield (Dunne, 2008). Specifically, it will discuss the use of the railroad and the lessons learned from the Civil War that can provide valuable lessons for today's logisticians. Warfare requires innovative thinking and ingenuity.

Discussion

The enemy is always adapting to tactics used on the battlefield. It is important that the commander on the ground be perceptive and be able to apply critical thought not only to his actions but also to the enemy's responses. As Jay Luvaas noted in his article, “Military History: Is It Still Practicable?” in the March 1982 issue of Parameters, during World War II the Germans used lessons learned from the western front and applied them unchanged in the battle against the Soviet Union. Later, a German general remarked, “Not only did this misapplication of experience influence the operational plan against Russia, it also contributed to the final disappointment”. One can deduce that many factors influenced the lack of success of the same plan with a different enemy—factors that the commander on the ground did not take into consideration (Jones, Woolven, Durodié & Wessely, 2006). Many mission variables need to be considered when applying a lesson from history. Studying the events, situations, or circumstances facing the commander at the time is what provides the true lessons. How does that commander use the terrain or the weather to his advantage? The thought process or the events that led to the decision are important to understand. Napoleon studied history and made use of its lessons (Dunne, 2008). His application of those lessons is evident in his actions in 1806, when his army was in Italy.

Napoleon saw the true benefit of studying history. He knew that he was on terrain that had been used to wage war in the past. If a commander is not well read or knowledgeable of events from the past, he may miss opportunities to use those lessons in the present. Napoleon capitalized on this concept in his campaign in Italy (Taydas, Peksen & James, 2010). Military personnel can learn a great deal from history. The process by which warfare has been sustained has changed drastically over the years (Dunne, 2008). Armies no longer use animals with carts to ...