Military History Commons^™

Executive Summary, William T. Eliason

Joint Force Quarterly

This executive summary introduces Joint Force Quarterly 116 against the backdrop of the fall of Bashar al-Asad’s regime in Syria and considers the implications for U.S. strategy, regional security, and future military posture in the Middle East. The issue addresses strategic risk in U.S. national security decisionmaking, adversary use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons, and the adoption of a data-oriented approach to operational planning. Additional articles consider joint campaign planning, military influence operations, professional military education, the potential for Ireland to join NATO, and the implications of artificial intelligence for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Feature articles address political objectives in …

Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 116, 1st Quarter 2025, National Defense University Press

Joint Force Quarterly

Joint Force Quarterly 116 explores key challenges and innovations in military strategy, operations, and global security. The Forum section examines how the U.S. approaches risk in its strategy, the impact of nonstrategic nuclear weapons, and the importance of using data-driven methods in planning military operations.

In JPME Today, articles focus on how joint military campaigns succeed, the role of storytelling and persuasion in operations, and the urgent need to modernize professional military education.

The Commentary section highlights Ireland's strategic role in securing Europe’s western flank and evaluates whether China’s military overestimates the potential of artificial intelligence.

The Features section dives …

Civilian Manufacturing And National Defense: Strategic Planning For Globalization's Challenges, Izeck Kohler

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This thesis examines the interconnection between civilian manufacturing and national defense within the context of globalization. The study aims to identify the challenges faced by the United States in maintaining its manufacturing capabilities and to propose strategic solutions to address these challenges. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical data, case studies, and policy recommendations, the research highlights the critical role of specialized and process manufacturing sectors towards national defense. The findings suggest that the creation of a federal executive department, strategic investment, diversification, policy re-evaluation, and collaborating with allies are essential for sustaining national defense capabilities. The study concludes with …

Book Review: Judgment At Tokyo: World War Ii On Trial And The Making Of Modern Asia, Peter M. Erickson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Gary J. Bass

Reviewed by Lieutenant Colonel Peter M. Erickson (US Army), PhD, Deputy G35, US Army Europe and Africa

Lieutenant Colonel Peter M. Erickson, PhD, provides a valuable overview of Gary J. Bass’s explanation of why the post–World War II Tokyo trials “were a relative failure.” He highlights how a lack of impartiality, the “legacy of empire,” and the judges’ backgrounds and motivations affected the trials. Erickson calls the book “a must-read for Defense community leaders who often wrestle with the strict legality of America’s tactical actions and the broader and deeper moral impacts of its strategic endeavors.”

Book Review: Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied The South, James "Andy" Nichols

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Elizabeth R. Varon

Reviewed by Lieutenant Colonel James “Andy” Nichols, US Army War College class of 2024

Lieutenant Colonel James “Andy” Nichols reviews Elizabeth R. Varon’s biography of James Longstreet, which Nichols calls “an engaging, well-researched account of [the general’s] journey through disunion, reconstruction, and reconciliation.” He writes that Varon “lifts Longstreet out of the Lost Cause mythology and, through careful archival work, enables readers understand a man who experienced personal and professional transformation and sought redemption.”

Book Review: Witness To Neptune’S Inferno: The Pacific War Diary Of Lieutenant Commander Lloyd M. Mustin, Uss Atlanta (Cl 51), Jonathan Klug

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: David F. Winkler

Reviewed by Colonel Jonathan Klug (US Army), PhD, associate dean, associate professor, and Admiral William F. Halsey Chair of Naval Studies, US Army War College

Colonel Jonathan Klug (PhD), the US Army War College’s Admiral William F. Halsey Chair of Naval Studies, identifies David F. Winkler’s contribution to the field with this book. Klug writes, “Winkler adds tremendous value to [Lloyd M.] Mustin’s comments by placing them into their proper historical context and providing insight into the development of a mid-career naval officer into a strategic leader.” Klug also notes that “this book would be especially …

Book Review: British Grand Strategy In The Age Of American Hegemony, Frank L. Jones

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: William D. James

Reviewed by Dr. Frank L. Jones, distinguished fellow, US Army War College

Dr. Frank L. Jones, a distinguished fellow of the US Army War College, provides a useful and comprehensive review of author William D. James’s first book, “an excellent study for members of the defense community who want to understand British grand strategy historically or aspire to policy-making or strategy-making positions and need a sound introduction.” Jones outlines James’s main arguments and the value of the case studies presented, including the “East of Suez” case study, a “vivid example of strategic adjustment where timing, domestic …

Book Review: How The Army Made Britain A Global Power: 1688–1815, James D. Scudieri

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Jeremy Black

Reviewed by Dr. James D. Scudieri, senior research historian, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College

Senior research historian Dr. James D. Scudieri provides a detailed outline of Jeremy Black’s history of the British Army from 1688 to 1815, highlighting the author’s “theme that the British Army made the empire as much as the Royal Navy—through projecting Landpower.” Scudieri also notes the book’s value to American readers, writing, “American security professionals will see parallel insights from this small regular army within a parliamentary system” and that the “US Army’s evolution in a republic that centers the military …

Book Review: We Had To Get Out Of That Place: A Memoir Of Redemption And Betrayal In Vietnam, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Steven Grzesik

Reviewed by Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College Class of 2010

Dr. Wylie W. Johnson reviews Vietnam War veteran Steven Grzesik’s memoir that, as Johnson explains, shows the effects of “the Army’s institutional policies” and how “[u]nit cohesiveness begins with senior leadership.” Grzesik’s personal experiences and the “isolation, abuse, and sacrifice of individual replacements” (which Johnson identifies as important themes in the book) provide a valuable perspective on “the imperative of caring for soldiers.”

Korea: The Enduring Policy Blindspot, Justin Malzac, Rene A. Mahomed

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The threat posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a neglected and under prioritized problem across the US government, requiring a dramatic change of approach. Most proposals for Goldwater-Nichols reform focus on geography, either increasing or decreasing the number of geographic commands. Based on our personal experience as Joint military planners at strategic-level headquarters, we argue that the change needs to go further, focusing on global national security problems instead of geography. This article’s analysis and conclusions will provoke conversation across the national security enterprise about how the United States competes with multiple global threats.

The American Way Of Studying War: What Is It Good For?, Michael P. Ferguson

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Academic military historians, government institutions, and defense practitioners have unique purposes for advancing the study of war that influence the way they consume and produce history. Although there is substantial scholarship covering how the discipline of military history has changed since the late nineteenth century, the literature surrounding why it changes and how it is used is less plentiful. Using primary and secondary sources to contextualize debates between historians, this study traces major developments in military historiography, considers the US Army’s relationship with its history, and explores potential connections between a history’s purpose and its use for military professionals.

Parameters Winter 2024-25, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Winter 2024–25 issue of Parameters. This issue consists of an In Focus special commentary, three forums (Indo-Pacific, Security Cooperation, and Historical Studies), and the regular Civil-Military Relations Corner installment.

Book Reviews, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Giving Our “Paper Tiger” Real Teeth: Fixing The U.S. Military’S Plans For Contested Logistics Against China, Zachary S. Hughes

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the U.S. military’s emerging concepts for dispersed operations in the Western Pacific risk becoming unsustainable because logistics has not been fully integrated into force design and campaign planning. Focusing on a potential conflict with China, the author contends that logistics would likely be a decisive factor, particularly in scenarios involving a blockade or invasion of Taiwan and operations inside China’s antiaccess/area-denial network. The article reviews the logistical demands of Marine Corps Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations, Army multidomain task forces, and Air Force Agile Combat Employment, finding that each concept creates significant sustainment challenges and often shifts …

The Joint Functions: Theory, Doctrine, And Practice, Matthew J. Tackett

Joint Force Quarterly

This article analyzes the joint functions as a framework for organizing, planning, and conducting joint operations and argues that commanders should understand them through the combined lenses of military theory, doctrine, and practice. The author traces the development of the joint functions from earlier concepts of command, maneuver, fires, protection, intelligence, sustainment, and staff organization, emphasizing their role in providing a common language across the joint force. Drawing particularly on Milan Vego’s theory of operational functions, the article questions whether current doctrine adequately addresses the distinct requirements of operational-level warfare. It highlights command and control, information, movement and maneuver, and …

The Fragile Balance Of Terror: Deterrence In The New Nuclear Age, John William Sutcliffe Iv

Joint Force Quarterly

This book review assesses The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the New Nuclear Age, edited by Vipin Narang and Scott D. Sagan, which reconsiders nuclear deterrence in a strategic environment that differs substantially from the Cold War. The volume addresses both new and enduring challenges, including multipolar nuclear competition, personalist regimes, social media, open-source intelligence, evolving definitions of nuclear sufficiency, advances in counterforce capabilities, regional command-and-control practices, and assumptions about nuclear learning. The reviewer highlights the book’s use of diverse historical and contemporary case studies to show how deterrence can be undermined by miscalculation, political context, information dynamics, and …

The Military Legacy Of Alexander The Great: Lessons For The Information Age, Robert D. Spessert

Joint Force Quarterly

This book review assesses Michael P. Ferguson and Ian Worthington’s The Military Legacy of Alexander the Great: Lessons for the Information Age, which connects Alexander’s campaigns and leadership to contemporary military and national security challenges. The authors organize the book around themes including the operational environment, military organization, campaign design, strategic overreach, and the human dimension of war. The review highlights how Alexander’s decisions offer lessons on mission command, logistics, political objectives, leadership, and the limits of military success. Particular attention is given to the joint function of information, including Alexander’s use of deception, narrative, symbolism, and audience-specific messaging …

Don’T Let’S Be Beastly To The Germans: The British Occupation Of Germany, 1945–49, Michael C. Davies

Joint Force Quarterly

This book review assesses Daniel Cowling’s Don’t Let’s Be Beastly to the Germans: The British Occupation of Germany, 1945–49, a study of British efforts to govern and reconstruct Germany after World War II. Drawing on archival research and personal accounts, the book traces the British occupation from early planning and ideological debates through implementation, near collapse, recovery, and the eventual restoration of German sovereignty. The reviewer highlights Cowling’s attention to the tension between punishment and reconciliation, the difficulties of working with former Nazis, and the ways personal relationships and individual judgment influenced policy. Particular emphasis is placed on the …

From Sparta To Hostomel: The Enduring Role Of Joint Forcible Entry Operations, Jonathan Maxwell Cohen

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that joint forcible entry operations remain relevant despite the growing threat posed by antiaccess/area-denial networks. Using the Russian assault on Hostomel Airport during the opening phase of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine as a case study, the author contends that the operation failed not because forcible entry had become obsolete, but because Russian forces were unable to isolate and expand the lodgment, protect access for follow-on forces, and integrate maneuver and supporting fires effectively. The article traces the historical development of forcible entry from ancient amphibious operations through airborne and air assault doctrine, then applies lessons from …

Better In Pairs: Divide The Indo-Pacific Theater In Half, Tim Devine

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the Department of Defense should reconsider the current geographic organization of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and create a second geographic combatant command in the region. The author contends that USINDOPACOM’s vast area of responsibility, expanding subordinate structure, growing operational demands, and increasing strategic competition with China are placing excessive strain on a single theater headquarters. Drawing on the U.S. experience in the Pacific during World War II, when separate commands under Admiral Chester Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur divided responsibilities across the theater, the article presents a dual-command model as a historically proven way to improve span …

The Need For U.S. Stability Policing, John F. Hussey

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the U.S. military needs a dedicated stability policing capability to establish public order, protect civilians, uphold the rule of law, and consolidate gains during the transition from combat operations to postconflict stability. Drawing on U.S. experiences in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the author contends that military forces have often been ill prepared to perform civilian policing or train indigenous police forces, leading to overly militarized approaches that can undermine legitimacy and public trust. The article emphasizes that stability policing requires personnel with civilian law enforcement expertise, particularly during the critical period immediately following major combat operations. …

The Profession Of Arms: What Scholars, Practitioners, And Others Of Note Have Had To Say, Gregory D. Foster

Joint Force Quarterly

This article brings together foundational and contemporary perspectives on the profession of arms to consider what defines military professionalism and whether that concept remains sufficient for today’s security environment. Beginning with the officer’s commission, oath of office, and joint doctrine, the author emphasizes that military service rests on constitutional loyalty, character, competence, expertise, responsibility, ethical conduct, and public trust. The article then presents influential views from figures such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Alexis de Tocqueville, Samuel Huntington, Morris Janowitz, Sir John Winthrop Hackett, Charles Moskos, Douglas MacArthur, and Martin Dempsey, highlighting recurring themes of civilian control, selfless service, professional …

Ethical Leadership Development: Highlights From The Past And A Glimpse Of The Future, Elias Ursitti, Eric J. Weis, Donald P. Loren

Joint Force Quarterly

This article traces the development of ethical leadership in the U.S. military over the past century and argues that character, integrity, and ethical judgment remain essential to the profession of arms. Using the Eisenhower School’s centennial as a framework, the authors review how military ethics have adapted to changing forms of warfare, technology, law, civil-military relations, and social expectations from the interwar period through the post–Cold War era. They highlight recurring challenges involving civilian protection, command responsibility, nuclear weapons, counterinsurgency, autonomous systems, private military contractors, diversity and inclusion, toxic leadership, and the psychological effects of war. Looking ahead, the article …

One Hundredth Anniversary Of The Eisenhower School For National Security And Resource Strategy: A Tribute In Three Verses, Gregory D. Foster

Joint Force Quarterly

This article commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy and places the school’s development within the broader history of U.S. national security, professional military education, and the profession of arms. Founded in 1924 as the Army Industrial College in response to mobilization challenges revealed by World War I, the institution later became the Industrial College of the Armed Forces before adopting its current name in 2012. The article traces this evolution alongside major changes in U.S. defense organization, strategy, civil-military relations, and the international security environment. It also introduces a Joint …

Stop Talking To Yourself: Military Recruiting In The Modern Age, Richard R. Bell, Elizabeth Goldsmith, Robert Martinez, Donghyun Lee

Joint Force Quarterly

This article explores the Department of Defense’s military recruiting challenges and argues that outdated communication strategies are limiting its ability to connect with Generation Z. The authors contend that young people’s perceptions of military service are shaped by concerns about physical and psychological risk, separation from family and friends, career opportunities, and the military lifestyle, as well as by misinformation and selective information-sharing on digital platforms. At the same time, DOD has struggled to adapt its recruiting efforts to the new media environment and to communicate the benefits of service in ways that are relevant and credible to younger audiences. …

Considering The Utility Of Modern Blockade In A Protracted Conflict With China, Thomas A. Krasnicki

Joint Force Quarterly

This article evaluates the potential use of maritime blockade as part of a U.S. strategy for ending a protracted conflict with China. Drawing on historical examples from the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II, the author argues that blockade remains relevant because China depends heavily on seaborne energy imports and maritime trade. The article proposes a modernized approach that combines close and distant blockade operations to pressure China’s economy while reducing risk to U.S. and allied forces. Close blockade elements would focus on neutralizing Chinese shipping near contested waters, while distant blockade forces would help identify …

Winners Of The 2024 Essay Competitions, National Defense University Press

Joint Force Quarterly

This article announces the winners of the 2024 National Defense University Press essay competitions and highlights the role of joint professional military education in advancing national security research and strategic thought. Twenty-eight faculty judges from 17 professional military education institutions evaluated 97 submissions across three categories: the Secretary of Defense National Security Essay Competition, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategic Research Paper Competition, and the Chairman’s Strategy Article Competition. Winning papers addressed contested logistics in a potential conflict with China, changes in the character of war, defense industrial base resilience, blockade strategy, Arctic and European security, nuclear-powered …

Cbrn Defense Readiness Reporting, Jeffrey A. French-Lujan, Taylor Harrington, Ron Fizer, Domah Diggs

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the Department of Defense lacks a sufficiently standardized system for assessing and reporting chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense readiness across the joint force. Although the Defense Readiness Reporting System provides common measures for personnel, equipment, materiel condition, and training, current CBRN reporting requirements rely too heavily on subjective assessments and can overstate a unit’s actual ability to operate in a contaminated environment. Using the Marine Corps as a case study, the authors show how standardized training and equipment metrics can provide commanders with a more accurate picture of CBRN preparedness and operational risk. They contend …

The Implications Of The New Security Environment On The National Health Systems Enterprise, Martin Charles Bricknell, Derek Licina

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the changing global security environment requires the United States to treat the military health system and the broader national health systems enterprise as strategic national capabilities rather than primarily as peacetime healthcare services. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and growing risks of large-scale conflict, the authors contend that future crises could produce military and civilian casualty levels that exceed the capacity of existing military medical systems. They emphasize the need for military health services to operate as part of an integrated civil-military health system capable of supporting deployed forces, receiving …

The Key To Arctic Dominance: Establishing An Arctic-Focused Subordinate Unified Command, Joseph R. Blume, Nathan L. Golike, Geoffrey R. Latimer, Michael Stanski

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the United States should establish an Arctic-focused subordinate unified command under U.S. Northern Command to improve unity of command, resource management, and coordination in a region of growing strategic importance. The authors contend that current responsibility for Arctic operations, divided among U.S. Northern Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, complicates command and control and weakens unity of effort. They trace how reduced sea ice, expanding shipping and resource access, Russia’s military modernization, and China’s growing Arctic activity are increasing competition and security demands in the region. After comparing subordinate unified commands, joint task forces, …