Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower Second Edition

277 Pages·2022·2.273 MB·English

by  Ryan Burke, Michael Fowler, and Jahara Matisek

Milita ry
Str ategy,
Joint
Oper ations,
A irpower
a nd
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M i l i t a r y
S t r a t e g y,
J o i n t
O p e r a t i o n s ,
A i r p o w e r
a n d
An Introduction
Second Edition
Ryan Burke
Michael Fowler
Jahara Matisek
Editors
Georgetown University Press / Washington, DC
© 2022 Georgetown University Press. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publisher.
The publisher is not responsible for third- party websites or their content. URL links were active
at time of publication.
This work reflects the analysis and opinions of the authors and does not represent the official
position of the Department of Defense or any of its subordinate organizations.
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Burke, Ryan, editor. | Fowler, Michael W., 1971– editor. | Matisek,
Jahara, 1983– editor.
Title: Military strategy, joint operations, and airpower : an introduction /
Ryan Burke, Michael Fowler, Jahara Matisek, editors.
Description: Second edition. | Washington, DC : Georgetown University Press, 2022. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021037937 (print) | LCCN 2021037938 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781647122508 (paperback) | ISBN 9781647122492 (hardcover) |
ISBN 9781647122515 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: United States. Air Force. | Air power. | Air warfare. | Strategy. |
Unified operations (Military science)
Classification: LCC UG630 .M533 2022 (print) | LCC UG630 (ebook) |
DDC 358.4—dc23
LC record available at https:// lccn .loc .gov /2021037937
LC ebook record available at https:// lccn .loc .gov /2021037938
♾ This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48- 1992 (Permanence of Paper).
23 22 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 First printing
Printed in the United States of America
Cover design by TG Design
Contents
List of Illustrations vii
Preface: Some Perspectives on Planning and Executing Warfare ix
Thomas T. Swaim
Acknowledgments xvii
Introduction 1
Ryan Burke
Part I: National Security and Defense
1 Strategic Foundations and National Security Interests 9
John T. Farquhar
2 Integrating the Instruments of Power 19
Paul Bezerra, Marybeth Ulrich, and Mark Grotelueschen
3 The Spectrum of Conflict and Range of Military Operations 31
Danielle Gilbert and Kyleanne Hunter
Part II: Military Forces and the Joint Fight
4 The US Joint Force Structure 45
Buddhika Jayamaha
5 The US Army and the Land Domain 52
Brian Drohan
6 The US Navy and the Maritime Domain 64
James Holmes
7 The US Marine Corps and Expeditionary Power Projection 73
Ryan Burke and Kyleanne Hunter
8 The US Air Force and the Air Domain 81
Heather Venable
9 The US Space Force and the Space Domain 95
Michael Martindale
Part III: Synchronizing Operations
10 Special Operations 109
Jon McPhilamy
v
vi Contents
11 Cyber Power 121
Judson C. Dressler
12 Intelligence, ISR, and Strategy 132
Michael Fowler
13 The Nuclear Weapons Triad and Missile Defense 140
Frances V. Mercado
Part IV: Military Theory and Operations
14 Theory, Doctrine, and Application of Strategic Air War 155
John T. Farquhar
15 Contemporary Air Theory Strives for Strategic Effect 165
John T. Farquhar
16 Constructing a Compellence Strategy 173
Michael Fowler
17 The Paradox of Irregular Warfare 185
John T. Farquhar
18 Airpower’s Unconventional Irregular Warfare Challenge 194
John T. Farquhar
Part V: Planning and Design in the Contemporary Environment
19 Operational Design as a Framework for Strategic Understanding and Agility 205
Ryan Burke and Rob Grant
20 Framing Wicked Problems to Analyze the Operational Environment 215
James Davitch and Michael Fowler
21 Analyzing Centers of Gravity 226
Ryan Burke and Michael Fowler
22 Building Lines of Effort to Link Ends, Ways, and Means 235
Ryan Burke
Conclusion 243
Ryan Burke
List of Contributors 247
Index 251
Illustrations
Figures
2.1 Elements of US Responses to National Security Challenges 26
3.1 Range of Military Operations along the Spectrum of Conflict 35
4.1 US Joint Force Organizational Structure 47
4.2 Joint Force Components 49
5.1 Armored Brigade Combat Team 56
5.2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team 57
5.3 Infantry Brigade Combat Team 58
7.1 Elements of a MAGTF 75
10.1 Notional SOF Theater Command Structure 111
16.1 The Compellence Spectrum 176
21.1 COG Analysis Example 231
21.2 Direct and Indirect Approaches 233
22.1 LOE Construct 236
22.2 Assessing Risk 241
Learning Boxes
8.1 Application Scenario 87
11.1 Examples of Offensive Cyberspace Operations 127
12.1 Concepts of Intelligence and Intelligence Failure 133
16.1 Examples of Successful Compellence Methods 179
Tables
4.1 Combatant Commands’ Component Commands 48
8.1 Airpower Strengths and Weaknesses 82
8.2 US Air Force Mix of Aircraft 85
8.3 KC- 46 Tanker Aircraft Requirements 86
8.4 Air Force Assets Aligned by Air Force Core Function 90
8.5 Operational Planning Factor Estimates 91
10.1 SOF Assets 110
10.2 SOF Activities 113
12.1 ISR Platforms and Capabilities 137
16.1 Influence Methods 174
16.2 Ways of Compellence 177
20.1 Example of an ASCOPE Matrix 217
20.2 Key Capabilities 222
21.1 Example of a CARVER Matrix 232
vii
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Preface
Some Perspectives on Planning
and Executing Warfare
Welcome to the second edition of Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower. This
book is about warfare, plain and simple. It is about applying military force against an adver-
sary in order to make it do what we want. In this book, you will learn how we plan and
execute military operations in order to accomplish national objectives. We do this through
strategy.
Strategy and Strategic Thinking
This preface is a brief introduction to military strategy. My desired end state (DES)—in this
case, what I want you to know and think when you’re done reading this—is for you to have
a broad understanding of what strategy is and why thinking strategically is critical to our
national security. I want you to be motivated to learn about military strategy, and I sincerely
hope that you find the topics in this work to be approachable, meaningful, and deeply appli-
cable to your understanding, and perhaps your execution, of military strategy
So, let’s get started. Your first question: Why is this concept of military strategy (and stra-
tegic thinking in general) important to me?
Well, two reasons: First, if you’re engaging in this text, exploring these topics, you are
likely on a chosen trajectory to enter a strategic profession (military or civilian) defending
our nation and its interests, leading people, operating weapon systems, orchestrating warfare,
and managing violence. Or perhaps you are actively engaged in this already. Thank you. This
book is designed to introduce you to, or perhaps refresh for you, the fundamentals of military
strategy, with an emphasis on airpower employment in a joint operating environment. These
are the primary tools in your kit. These concepts constitute the foundation for whatever
professional specialty in which you currently operate or strive to enter. This is how we plan
and win wars.
The second reason why strategy and strategic thinking is important to you is because it’s
a critical life skill that will serve you well in every endeavor to which you aspire. Seriously.
I mean, let’s face it—you’ve been planning and executing strategy ever since you figured out
how to get more attention from a parent or caregiver by putting on a cute smile or how to
get more cookies from the cookie jar or how to get that special someone’s attention or get a
teacher to agree to a grade change. You already are a strategist, so let’s put some refinement
and precision to your strategic thinking and give you some tools and processes that will
benefit you even more, whether you’re huddled in a planning cell devising the air campaign
against our next enemy or setting up the department picnic or leading the club fund raising
project. So, please trust me. This is important to you.
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