Principlesof War and Tenets of Air

Power

• Video • History • Principles of War

Overview

Video

Sun Tzu Napoleon

JFC Fuller

History

Principle of War

• Objective• Offensive• Mass• Economy of force• Maneuver

• Unity of command• Security• Surprise• Simplicity

Objective

Directs military operations toward a defined and attainable objective that contributes to

strategic, operational, or tactical aims.

Offensive

Dictates that we act rather than react and dictate the time, place, purpose, scope, intensity, and pace of operations. The

initiative must be seized, retained, and fully exploited.

Concentrates combat power at the decisive time and place.

Mass in WWII

Mass

Mass Today

Economy of Force

Creates usable mass by using minimum combat power on secondary objectives. Makes fullest use of forces available.

Maneuver

Places the enemy in a position of disadvantage through the flexible application of combat power.

Unity of Command

Ensures unity of effort for every objective under one responsible commander.

General James N. Mattis

Security

Protects friendly forces and their operations from enemy actions which could provide the enemy with unexpected advantage.

Surprise

Strikes the enemy at a time or place or in a manner for which he is unprepared.

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Simplicity

Avoids unnecessary complexity in preparing, planning, and conducting military operations.

• Video • History • Principles of War

Summary