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The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

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Parameters Autumn 2026, Usawc Press Aug 2026

Parameters Autumn 2026, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


Innovation And Adaptation: Lessons From The Russia-Ukraine War, 2024, Stephan Bolton, John A. Nagl Aug 2026

Innovation And Adaptation: Lessons From The Russia-Ukraine War, 2024, Stephan Bolton, John A. Nagl

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The third year of the Russia-Ukraine War was marked by inconclusive counterattacks and minimal territorial gains despite a loss of life and materiel, mostly on the Russian side, greater than any witnessed in Europe since World War II. The most important lessons for US forces from this year of the war are the impact and promise of emerging, multi-use technology on war-fighting functions and domains. Perhaps most notably, each year of this war has further reinforced principles of mission command, either by their observance or omission.


Book Reviews, Usawc Press Aug 2026

Book Reviews, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


From The Editor In Chief, C. Anthony Pfaff Aug 2026

From The Editor In Chief, C. Anthony Pfaff

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


From Reliability To Fit: Trust, Adaptation, And Distributed Cognition In Ai-Enabled Mission Command, C. Anthony Pfaff Aug 2026

From Reliability To Fit: Trust, Adaptation, And Distributed Cognition In Ai-Enabled Mission Command, C. Anthony Pfaff

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This special commentary argues that military articificial intelligence integration must pivot from model reliability to a “cognitive fit” within human-machine teams to ensure decision advantage under uncertainty. It advances beyond traditional artificial intelliegenceintelligence metrics by focusing on dynamic operational adaptation, and systemic resilience. The research employs an eco-cognitive framework, synthesizing John Boyd’s evolutionary theories with modern cognitive science and risk management principles. This analysis offers policy and military practitioners a crucial blueprint for designing command structures that preserve human judgment and mitigate risk.


Can Ai Pass The Us Army War College?, Kevin M. Boyce, John A. Nagl, Kristan J. Wheaton Aug 2026

Can Ai Pass The Us Army War College?, Kevin M. Boyce, John A. Nagl, Kristan J. Wheaton

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The US Army War College oral comprehensive examination serves as the institution’s capstone, measuring its senior officers’ strategic thinking. In early 2026, three faculty panels applied that standard to four leading commercial artificial intelligence (AI) systems: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Grok. Prompted without core curriculum materials, all four models passed. Unlike static benchmarks, the examination’s impromptu dialogue format revealed meaningful performance differences that were invisible in general-purpose evaluations, with one model performing at a statistically significant advantage. These findings challenge how the Department of War assesses commercial AI for strategic applications and point toward domain-specific, dialogue-based benchmarking as a more …


Constraint Breeds Lethality: Three Models Of Military Ai Adoption, Branko Ruzic Aug 2026

Constraint Breeds Lethality: Three Models Of Military Ai Adoption, Branko Ruzic

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the United States faces an institutional, not technological, adaptation gap in military artificial intelligence (AI). Constraints drive adversaries toward optimization choices that generate greater operational lethality than abundance-driven Western procurement allows. Departing from algorithmic or budget-centric commentary, it compares three procurement architectures (compliance-optimized, battlefield-validated, and systematically extractive) and treats Ukraine as a distinct wartime adoption system rather than a fourth model. Using Russian ZALA Lancet loitering munition strike data, Chinese-language doctrine on dissipative warfare, and US and NATO acquisition documentation, the analysis offers acquisition executives and combatant commanders five reforms achievable within existing authorities.


Russia’S Attritional Theory Of Victory In Ukraine, Tewfik Hamel Aug 2026

Russia’S Attritional Theory Of Victory In Ukraine, Tewfik Hamel

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


Maximize Your Returns: The Critical Need For Red-Team Capabilities At All Echelons Of Command, Lex Oren Jr. Aug 2026

Maximize Your Returns: The Critical Need For Red-Team Capabilities At All Echelons Of Command, Lex Oren Jr.

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the US Army’s underuse of red teaming at echelons below flag-officer levels hinders effective decision making and operational adaptability. Unlike existing literature that primarily focuses on red teaming at higher command levels, this article emphasizes the need to integrate red-team capabilities at the division, brigade, and battalion levels. The methodology includes a comprehensive analysis of current Army doctrine, historical case studies, and interviews with military experts to assess the impact of red teaming on operational outcomes. The findings suggest that embedding professionally trained red-team members at lower echelons enhances critical thinking, identifies potential vulnerabilities, and improves …


Transforming The Us Army Reserve For Protracted War, Joshua Yarbrough Aug 2026

Transforming The Us Army Reserve For Protracted War, Joshua Yarbrough

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues the US Army Reserve must be transformed from an operational to an adaptive reserve to meet the demands of protracted, high-intensity warfare. The author’s analysis focuses on how the Army Reserve’s current structure lacks the strategic depth, mobilization capacity, and training to sustain long-term conflict. Drawing on historical cases, contemporary conflicts, and official documents, this article blends strategic analysis with policy recommendations, offering practitioners actionable reforms relevant to the Army Transformation Initiative and future Joint Force readiness in large-scale combat operations.


Intellectual Interoperability: Lessons From Afghanistan For Security Cooperation, Sae Schatz, Scott C. Buchanan Aug 2026

Intellectual Interoperability: Lessons From Afghanistan For Security Cooperation, Sae Schatz, Scott C. Buchanan

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that intellectual interoperability—the cognitive and conceptual alignment necessary for multinational partners to coordinate decision making effectively—is a critical, yet undervalued, dimension of security cooperation. While considerable scholarship already explores technical and procedural interoperability, this piece examines its human dimensions and demonstrates their significance through an evidence-based analysis of gaps observed in Afghanistan (2001–21). Drawing on policy documents, doctrine, scholarly literature, and one author’s firsthand experience as a Ministry of Defense adviser in Afghanistan, this article offers military and policy practitioners three actionable lessons for building security partnerships resilient enough to withstand strategic pressure.


Contributor Guidelines, Usawc Press Aug 2026

Contributor Guidelines, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


From The Editor In Chief, C. Anthony Pfaff May 2026

From The Editor In Chief, C. Anthony Pfaff

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Summer 2026 issue of Parameters, which consists of two In Focus special commentaries, three forums (Indo-Pacific, Strategy, and Historical Studies) and the Strategic Competition Corner.


Turning Tactical Victories Into Strategic Success: Counterinsurgency In The Irish Civil War, 1922–23, Gareth Prendergast, John A. Nagl May 2026

Turning Tactical Victories Into Strategic Success: Counterinsurgency In The Irish Civil War, 1922–23, Gareth Prendergast, John A. Nagl

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The fundamentals the Irish National Army used in the Irish Civil War (1922–23) are a model for the successful application of a classic counterinsurgency which, if understood earlier, could have made a difference in the United States’ most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Irish Civil War has not been examined in-depth through the lens of modern counterinsurgency doctrine. This article draws on military history and recent counterinsurgency doctrines to provide US policymakers and military practitioners practical guidance for how counterinsurgent forces can foster trust and use appropriate tactics that lead to strategic success.


Book Reviews, Usawc Press May 2026

Book Reviews, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


Parameters, Usawc Press May 2026

Parameters, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


Fighting For Intelligence In Large-Scale Combat Operations: The Role Of The Intelligence And Electronic Warfare Battalion–Next, Richard Appelhans, Michael Liesmann, B. Clay Jackson, Mikael Heikkinen May 2026

Fighting For Intelligence In Large-Scale Combat Operations: The Role Of The Intelligence And Electronic Warfare Battalion–Next, Richard Appelhans, Michael Liesmann, B. Clay Jackson, Mikael Heikkinen

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article contends the US Army’s proposed intelligence and electronic warfare battalion–next concept constitutes an organizational solution essential for achieving intelligence dominance in large-scale combat operations. Transcending legacy formations that are predicated on specific intelligence disciplines, this innovative design furnishes a functionally oriented, modular, and layered architecture that affords the requisite analytic capabilities, agility, and endurance for the contemporary battlefield. The analysis incorporates lessons extracted from the Russia-Ukraine War, US Army experimental endeavors, assessments of peer threats, and doctrinal evolutions, thereby providing readers of US Army War College Press publications with vital insights into how the Army is adapting to …


Rethinking Power: E. H. Carr’S Enduring Lessons For Modern Strategists, Brian J. Hasse May 2026

Rethinking Power: E. H. Carr’S Enduring Lessons For Modern Strategists, Brian J. Hasse

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues E. H. Carr’s classic conception of power provides enduring lessons for national security, but these lessons are easily lost in application. Unlike much of the existing literature, this article emphasizes how modern conceptions of power convey an illusion of balance, while the national security bureaucracy constrains the effective synchronization of power. The analysis leverages both historical and contemporary case studies to identify what a balanced conception of power looks like in practice, with the hope of informing US national security strategy and policy in today’s complex security environment.


Geopolitical Chessboard: How Vietnam Shapes American-Chinese Competition, Kiet H. Lê, Hiep X. Trần May 2026

Geopolitical Chessboard: How Vietnam Shapes American-Chinese Competition, Kiet H. Lê, Hiep X. Trần

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Vietnam’s geostrategic position—bordering China and commanding key South China Sea maritime routes—makes it a pivotal actor in shaping great-power competition in Southeast Asia. This article argues that the United States should support Vietnam’s neutrality and strategic autonomy as a means of countering Chinese influence. Unlike prior studies that portray regional states as passive players, this analysis highlights Vietnam’s active role in influencing regional dynamics. Through comparative analysis with the Philippines, using historical case studies, geographic assessments, and policy reviews, the article offers practical insights for military and policy practitioners on how geography shapes alliance formation and strategic competition.


How Is Going To War Like Buying A Car?: The Bargaining Model Of War, Richard R. Johnson May 2026

How Is Going To War Like Buying A Car?: The Bargaining Model Of War, Richard R. Johnson

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The bargaining model of war, a popular, yet complex international relations theory, emphasizes how nations communicate signals regarding military strength, resolve to fight, and foreign policy goals. Since the military plays a major role in communicating these signals, its leaders should understand this theory, despite its complexities. This article explains the model and its components through the used car sale bargaining process and supplements the analogy with real-world examples of international events. This article will help military and foreign policy professionals easily grasp the concepts of the model.


The State Of The Us Army, Richard D. Hooker Jr. May 2026

The State Of The Us Army, Richard D. Hooker Jr.

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that the US Army remains dangerously optimized for counterinsurgency, leaving it ill-equipped for a high-intensity ground war against near-peer adversaries like Russia or China. Unlike standard modernization literature that focuses solely on technology, this analysis highlights how bloated staffs and personnel policies that prioritize equity over battlefield excellence undermine combat readiness. The analysis evaluates 2026 force structure projections against current personnel metrics and acquisition timelines to identify systemic readiness gaps. The findings provide military and policy practitioners with actionable frameworks to reallocate personnel resources and address critical gaps in field artillery, electronic warfare, and short-range air defense …


Closing The Gap Between Threat And Rival, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii May 2026

Closing The Gap Between Threat And Rival, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article explores the advantages and risks associated with leveraging interstate rivalry frameworks for strategy development and planning. Advantages include reducing strategic uncertainty and gaining efficiencies in some aspects of force planning. Risks include trusting the data and accepting the methodical pace of research. United States security documents typically describe adversaries as threats or competitors but rarely acknowledge the fact that behavior patterns among interstate rivals, of which the United States currently has three—China, Russia, and Iran—differ fundamentally from those of mere threats or competitors. This analysis will benefit defense professionals responsible for developing regional or global strategies and for …


Contributor Guidelines, Usawc Press May 2026

Contributor Guidelines, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


From The Editor In Chief, C. Anthony Pfaff Mar 2026

From The Editor In Chief, C. Anthony Pfaff

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Spring 2026 issue of Parameters, which consists of an In Focus special commentary, three forums (Clausewitz and Modern Warfare, Operational Considerations, and Historical Studies), and the Strategic Competition Corner.


Legacies Worth Considering: (Re)Examining The Assumptions Behind Denial Strategies, Samuel Zilincik Mar 2026

Legacies Worth Considering: (Re)Examining The Assumptions Behind Denial Strategies, Samuel Zilincik

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Contemporary analyses of denial strategies risk conceptual confusion because they neglect the legacies of two distinct traditions: coercion versus control. This article explores the two traditions’ legacies from a broader perspective. It shows how neglecting those legacies contributes to conceptual confusion concerning operational conduct and strategic affairs in the South China Sea. The article facilitates smoother communication between and among civilians and military members involved in operational planning, which is essential if the United States and its allies want to combine military and nonmilitary instruments in future operations.


Successful Large-Scale Combat Operations Require Artificially Intelligent Breaching Munitions, Michael P. Carvelli Mar 2026

Successful Large-Scale Combat Operations Require Artificially Intelligent Breaching Munitions, Michael P. Carvelli

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The US Army must invest in artificial intelligence–enabled breaching munitions to succeed in large-scale combat operations. This article combines existing technologies to propose a new capability the Army does not currently possess. It lays out the current state of breaching materiel, identifies additional technology available, and proposes combining multiple pieces of existing technology to create improved breaching munitions for the Army’s use. This new capability will require practitioners and policymakers to enable the creation of artificial intelligence systems through acquisition and tactical experimentation.


Contributor Guidelines, Usawc Press Mar 2026

Contributor Guidelines, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


Book Reviews, Usawc Press Mar 2026

Book Reviews, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


Parameters Spring 2026, Usawc Press Mar 2026

Parameters Spring 2026, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.


Imitating Us Doctrine Cost Europe Its Heavy Combat Power, Bence Nemeth Mar 2026

Imitating Us Doctrine Cost Europe Its Heavy Combat Power, Bence Nemeth

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that Europe’s loss of heavy combat power is primarily the result of doctrinal shifts influenced by the United States, rather than underfunding alone. Unlike existing research that focuses on defense budgets or burden-sharing, this study isolates the opportunity costs of adopting US-based expeditionary and counterinsurgency doctrines. Using force structure data for Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom (1990–2022), it conducts a counterfactual analysis of lost tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and heavy artillery pieces. The article shows that Europe’s shortfalls are doctrinal as much as fiscal and highlights the relevance of maintaining balance in future doctrinal choices.