Three Kinds of Initiative

<p>This monograph examines the role of initiative in AirLand Battle doctrine as contained in the 1986 edition of Field Manual 100-5 Operations. It concludes that although the tenet of initiative is clearly defined as setting the terms of battle by action this concept is never fully developed. The terms of battle are never defined and most of the manual treats initiative as if it were an exclusive attribute of offensive action. For instance in discussing the defense seizing the initiative invariably means conducting a counterattack. A review of military theory indicates that there are three basic concepts of initiative as a characteristic of military operations. The most common is to treat initiative as an attribute of the attack. Others including Mao Tse Tung have used initiative to mean exercising freedom of action. Finally theorists such as Liddell Hart developed the concept of initiative as imposing your will on the enemy by causing him to react to your actions. The definition of initiative as setting the terms of battle by action contained in FM 100-5 corresponds to this third concept. Despite the inconsistent usage of initiative in the body of manual the majority of the authors of contemporary journal articles on AirLand Battle doctrine interpreted the tenet of initiative in this light. The monograph concludes that the concept of initiative as setting the terms of battle needs to be more fully developed in future AirLand Battle documents. This is especially important with respect to the emphasis on the counterattack which needs to be offset by other examples of the exercise of initiative in the defense.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>