Tactics Science or Art?
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Transcript of Tactics Science or Art?
TacticsScience or Art?
Working alone late one night a young woman is surprised by a burglar who begins beating her. As the fight becomes more vicious she is suddenly able to break free and run outside where she see’s a ladder leading to the flat roof of the building. Recognizing it as her best means of escape, she quickly climbs it just as the assailant reaches the bottom. At the top she notices a large tool box left by a workman and that there is no other safe way off the roof.
What Should She Do?12
1. Tactical operations are an “imperative” (participation is not an option)
2. Some terrain provides advantages (roof provided defensive advantage)
3. Timing is critical (fast is not as critical as faster)
4. Innovation and ingenuity can be the key advantage
5. Weapons are not always conventional
6. Attacks do not always require weapons
7. The weaker adversary always seeks refuge
8. Success and survival are sometimes synonymous
9. It ain’t rocket science (most times the concepts are so clear as to be intuitive)
10. Did she make any mistakes? If she had been in a similar situation in the past, would she have done anything differently?
What Should She Do?
DO THESE PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS MANIFEST THEMSELVES IN OTHER TACTICAL SITUATIONS?
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• Metaphor for tactical operations♦ Looked like a pussy cat, smelled like a pussy cat,
felt like a pussy cat, so what happened?
• Well-meaning citizen♦ Wrong tools, no knowledge, just wanted to help!
• Thinking tactically, not strategically♦ Only one blunder—one wrong step,
but fate was sealed thereafter
• What lessons might be extrapolated?
“Pinky the Wonder Cat”10
“Neglected Sciences”
Fog
Friction
Initiative
TempoCenter of Gravity
Critical Vulnerability
Risk
Terrain Analysis
Intelligence Estimate
Essential Elements of Information
Assumptions
Other Intelligence Requirements
SMEAC
Key Terrain
Avenues of Approach
KOCOA
SALUTE
Critical Requirements
Critical Capabilities
Crisis Decisionmaking
Competing Interests
Management by Default
Silence is ConsentDecision Points
Trip WiresManagement By Exception
Mission Tasking
Commander’s Intent
Planning Guidance
Expressed Consent
C2
C3C4
C4I
Commanding TerrainEnvelopment
Pincer
Hammer and Anvil
Deliberate Plan
Contingency Plan
Hasty Plan
IntelRep
IntelSumEvent Horizon
Defilade
Enfilade
Maneuver
Mass
Economy of Force
Objective
Offense
Nine Principles of WarMobility
Flexibility
Boyd’s Cycle
OODA Loop
Orientation
Implied Tasks
Specified Tasks
Density
OBE
Info Fusion
IPB
Main Effort
Focus of EffortGeneral Support
Direct Support
ROE
MOOSEMUSSConstraints
Restraints
Satisficing
Crisis
Conflict
Heuristics
Implied Objective
Command & Control
EMON
SOP
End State
SWOT
Concept of Operation
Course of Action
Alert Order
Execute Order
Warning Order
Frag Order
Strategy
Tactics
Tactical Dilemma
Deceptive Diversion
Physiological Diversion
Combined Arms
Situation Awareness
2/3 Rule
Tightly Coupled
Loosely Coupled
Precedent Decisionmaking
Incremental Decisionmaking
Groupthink
Abilene Paradox
Intelligence Paradox
Devil’s Advocate
Asymmetric Strategy
Deconfliction
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The most formidable warriors are students of their profession! General Al Gray
29th Commandant of the Marine Corps
Untutored courage is useless in the face of educated bulletsLt. General George S. Patton
United States Army
X = ?2 X = 4
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• We justify our tactics with smoke,mirrors, myths and magic♦ The average law enforcement
tactician would be hard put toquote a single source, theory ordoctrine to justify their decisions
• In the medical field, most lawenforcement tacticians would bethe functional equivalent ofwitch doctors
• There is tactical science that will support sound planning and decision making
Shaman, Wizards Myths & Magic
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What if the Next Time. . .6
• Accountants study math, doctors and nurses study medicine, weather forecasters study meteorology
• Tactical science dates back to at least 500 B.C.
• Besides books, manymilitary manuals and“lessons learned”are free on the Internet
Tactical Science6
• Forces a command staff to:♦ Implicitly trust subordinates
(who may not be any more enlightened!)♦ Make decisions without being aware of supporting doctrine
(indigestion or stomach cancer?)
• Civil liability coupled with an inadequate defense (when no one is an expert, anyone can be!)
• Potential tactical fiascoes in Biblical proportions!(Ruby Ridge, Waco, M.O.V.E, and others less well-known)
Consequences of Ignorance4
ProblemTraining Experience Education
The “wisdom of the ages” is expressed as doctrine, concepts, theories, precepts, tenets,
adages, dictums, heuristics, axioms, principles, laws, and proverbs
Knowledge allows us to start, not at the beginning, but where the experts left off! ~Carl Lewin
There is Nothing More Practical Than a Good Theory
Solution
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TrainingProvides skills
Instills confidence
Improves methods
Fosters expertise & proficiency
Teaches how to do thingsbetter
This is a Science Course!Education
Provides knowledge
Explains importance
Improves understanding
Fosters ingenuity & adaptability
Teaches whether we’re doing the right things
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A Whitman’s Sampler of Tactical Science
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Questions?