Argumentative Essay 1

“The Importance for Military Personnel to Study Military History

Sergeant Major Renay Boyle

United States Army Sergeants Major Academy

Class # 35

Sergeant Major Faithette Foreman

14 July 2009
 Argumentative Essay 2

Abstract

This paper will explore why now more than ever, it is vitally important for military

professionals to study military history. The events of the past seven years have made this a high

priority. Most soldiers that came into our military in the last seven years should be evaluated

differently because they came into our Army with the understanding that they would be going to

war. We have had conflicts in the last twenty years, but they cannot compare to the conflicts of

the past seven years. Most of the soldiers in the past twenty have never experienced what the

military of today is and has been experiencing.

Information and quotes from our past military professionals shows this to be true.

General George S. Patton, known as one of America’s great tacticians, spent many hours reading

history. He evaluated others leaders tactics, as well as all he could learn from his opponents.

Soldiers are and should be responsible for setting an example to their superiors, and their

subordinates of being a student of his/her trade; if one is a mathematician he studies his trade to

become better or more rounded. In the same way a soldier should study tactics and past military

experiences and performances.

Learning by Studying History

Every commander distinguished or not distinguished has benefited from well rounded

groundwork in military history. The following are some insightful excerpts from great warriors

from our past.

Military history, accompanied by sound criticism, is indeed the true school of war. —Jomini

The study of military history lies at the foundation of all sound military conclusions and practice.

—Alfred Thayer Mahan

The science of strategy is only to be acquired by experience and by studying the campaigns of

the great captains. Gustavus Adolphus, Turenne, and Frederick, as well as Alexander, Hannibal,

and Caesar, have all acted upon the same principles. —Napoleon

Only the study of history is capable of giving those who have no experience of their own a clear

picture of what I have just called the friction of the whole machine. —Clausewitz

These great figures from history have explained and have pointed out the importance of

the evaluation of military history, we should be wise enough to reflect on and take note of their

insight and understanding of the subject. Their message has proven over and over to be true in

the studying of history, our personnel will gain understanding and knowledge of the process and

action in war, even though they have no actual fighting experience. In our history whether it be

written or spoken about battles and wars that span up to three thousand years live the experiences

of the finest acts and most disastrous practices in the art of military combat. With the study of

history, the stories of our ancestors are retold; they retell us what has worked for nation that

became great nations, and what has not. They point out what has caused the rise and fall of each.

They reveal secrets of their successes and failures of their war, explaining the painful events,

hard right decisions that with that order some of their soldier would die, this also covers the
 Argumentative Essay 4

obscure analysis of the objective or the overall strategy. They offer us direction to glean their

strategy, fighting, and tactics. They impart insight to us about great leaders, and greater

leadership, the significance of motivation of the troop to inspire each ones bravery, and explain

the dangers of indecision, or recklessness. Studying our past military history unlocks and opens

a passageway that will deliver into the hands of a soldier the experience of thousands of years of

fighting experience. This is all gained by reading of the experiences that the soldier has written,

or firsthand experiences by listening to the stories of our past and present warriors.

Learning from the Fight

Every military leader should learn from the experience of the fight. This can come from

use of tactics, type of operations, or strategy for the fighting. The newer leaders should focus on

tactics. When this leader has mastered the use of tactics they should and will be able to move on

to the next stages. With those stages being operational and also strategy.

Tactical

The Army Field manual for Infantry Rifle Platoons and Squads (FM 7-8) “Mission

tactics require that leaders learn how to think rather than what to think. It recognizes that the

subordinate is often the only person at the point of decision who can make an informed

decision.” The tactics are built on doctrine; they will be reinforced through training and the use

of this through practice; and with its ultimate demonstration in combat. Having a good

understanding of doctrine and the lessons of tactics is an indispensable in learning tactics. We

need to always keep in mind that the understand of tactics still does not teach a leader how to

think clearly when confronted with the confusion of battle, when an enemy that has little care

about you or yours, has a different view of what “The right Thing” is, has warped religious

convictions, and twisted cultural motivators. We always need to remember that reading and
 Argumentative Essay 5

learning from history is and will only be a multiplier to the soldier when the experience of

combat in inserted. With this study of history a good leader can learn the ins and outs of how to

be a successful soldier; succeeded strategically against an enemy, or in contrast, know the reason

for being unsuccessful. In summary, a soldier and a reader of military history will have the

ability to not only learn and think through tactics, but to think through and use the tactics he has

learned.

One of the great generals that studied tactics documented the following in his personnel

diary. These statements are speaking about the soldier. “it is necessary for him to be so

thoroughly conversant with all sorts of military possibilities that whenever an occasion arises he

has at hand without effort on his part a parallel. To attain this end . . . it is necessary . . . to read

military history in its earliest and hence crudest form and to follow it down in natural sequence

permitting his mind to grow with his subject until he can grasp without effort the most abstruse

question of the science of war because he is already permeated with all its elements.”

General George S. Patton

Operational

Thinking through an operation toughly is where a reader and studier of military history

will be able to evaluate and examine the principles of warfare. This will give him the ability to

select different options through the ability to tap in the past for the strategies used in other

operations in wartime. The viceroy of India, British field marshal A. P. Wavell, British field

marshal, said to his officers, “The real way to get value out of the study of military history is to

take particular situations, and as far as possible, to get inside the skin of a man who made a

decision, realize the conditions in which the decision was made, and then see in what way you

could have improved on it.”

General Douglas MacArthur also identified the same. This was because he had a great

understanding if the principles of how the military as a whole operates and maneuvers. When he

was involved in the landing at Inchon North Korea on September 15, deep behind North Korean

lines, this helped to seal the fate of the between Seoul and Pusan. This situation is still looked at

as be one of the most daring and brilliant operations in the chronicles of warfare.

Strategic

This area is often left to the top level personnel within the military, these decision maker

are not only the commissioned officers, but the senior non-commissioned officers. This is where

military operations come together with the nation’s guidelines, government, and goals. This

involves each person present to have the knowledge and a detailed understanding of national

goals. This also involves a great knowledge of all the power this nation holds, whether that be

through trade, diplomacy, or its military forces. This can be used as an option to manipulate the

opponent to the desired results. With the ability to research our past history, lessons and

experiences can become part of our strategy. These strategies can be used when conducting war

can be evaluated in conditions of definite outcomes. One of the United States of America most

renowned naval thinker made this statement about strategy: “As in a building, which, however

fair and beautiful the superstructure, is radically marred and imperfect if the foundation be

insecure—so, if the strategy be wrong, the skill of the general on the battlefield, the valor of the

soldier, the brilliancy of victory, however otherwise decisive, fail of their effect.” His name was

Alfred Thayer Mahan

These statements and words made by A. T. Mahan help bring an understanding of the

failing of Germany during World War II when they were fighting against the Russians. The

Germany officers, soldiers, executed the tasks assigned flawlessly and with great bravery. The
 Argumentative Essay 7

Germans won many decisive victories in many battles, by use of their blitzkrieg tactics. This

was all for nothing because of strategy that was not well thought out.

Learning from Higher Level Leaders

With the addition of the information stated in Learning from the Fight, higher level

leaders required to deliver the following to their soldier, unequaled bravery in the presence of the

enemy and/or danger, the skill to motivate and to deploy forces, and the capability to evaluate

risks and remain calm and clear thinking in the presence of danger and mayhem. Many of our

part military campaigns provide an enormous amount of wisdom and knowledge on this.

Lessons from Higher Level Leaders

With the acquired knowledge of strategy, tactics and the deployment or operations,

leaders have the requirement of showing individual courage when faced with danger, this

coupled with the ability to motivate move their soldiers, weigh the risks to the soldier, and then

remain sensible even in the midst of confusion. Our nation’s military has excelled in these

abilities and will continue into our future. There are many documented illustrations of this

throughout our history on higher level leadership.

Leadership

Personal study of the campaigns of the great leaders, whether they are an officer or

enlisted soldier, will always provide lessons learned in fighting. These studies can and will
 Argumentative Essay 8

enhance our military leaders knowledge of leadership. These stories of courage while under fire,

their motivating example, and their bold and daring actions will forever teach us leadership and

give us leadership examples. These examples will be worthy of praise regardless of the time or

relationship. The leadership styles of the great leaders in our past and present have been as

different as their nationality, town of birth, be they slave or free. They may can vary in their

demeanor also, be they low detailed oriented, to high detail oriented.

This is where and when their individual studies will set them apart and give them their

advantage, the learned traits, tactics, and skill acquired from their and others experiences in

battle. This will give them an advantage over the non-studied will have missed, and they will

long for time that was wasted.

Learning from Experiences

Every leader understands that each conflict has its own unique flavor, aspects or

experiences. This would be described as the uniqueness of war. Through our actions and

experiences we have learned lessons on what will and will not work in the last skirmish, conflict

or action. History shows the outcome of a people or country that stayed with what they

understood to be the most efficient way to approaching a situation, only then to experience the

devastating consequences in the next skirmish, conflict or action.

Learning for Past Lessons

Our past has taught and shown us that each time we get into a conflict it carries its out

unique situations. Most of the lessons learned deal with what we did not do, what did not work

and other failures. History is filled with examples of the military and armies staying with “That
 Argumentative Essay 9

is what we did last time”, and then having disastrous outcome the next time deployed. There are

many examples of tactics that was created during Revolutionary War and were successful were

ignored and over looked during the Civil War because of doctrine. The great example of this is

hit and run tactics.

Our history teaches us the nothing is precise, why should war be any different. To

believe that war can be exact would be ludicrous. We need to be able to look at every aspect of a

conflict as it expands and evolves with each dose of warfare. The discussions on and over

dropping the atomic bomb on Japan is something to look at. This action is and was the final act

that encouraged the Japanese to surrender in World War II. Some personnel thought that with

this weapon that all other services would not be necessary form this point on. They thought that

the Air Force was all that was needed. They looked at the other service as being an example of

bringing knife to a gun fight. There was a great discussion on that the A-Bomb was the do-all

end-all in weaponry. These decisions and discussion were aggressively debated. The bottom

line was that in 1949 with a special House Armed Services Committee investigation. The report

provided by the committee showed that the thought of a there was and is no way to have a “one­

weapon, easy-war concept”. With the attack of the North Koreans on 25 June 1950 this proved

that the strategic bombing with atomic weapons was simply was not an option.

Conclusion

Serious study of history is essential to help develop our military professionals. There is a story

that has been repeated by many, about Napoleon when he was on his was to at Saint Helena. He

was talking about what he wanted for his son, and his education. n when he was on his was to at
 Argumentative Essay 10

Saint Helena. “My son should read and meditate often about history; the only true philosophy.

And he should read and think about the great captains. This is the only way to learn about war.”

Some personnel history that I would like to share with you: I have my Dads uniform and some

of his medals, these items came from his service to the United States Military, he received them

for his service during WWII and Korea. I hold them in high esteem; they show me that there are

others that have given to make this nation successful. My brothers and I are the first generation

raised in the United States of American. My ancestors were in the British military. They have

had their time to lead, now is my time to carry the banner and I will hand it off to the younger

and stronger generation. Someday, one of my children will have my uniform and medals when I

am gone; it will help them remember that there is something bigger than their personal being

worth standing up for.

References

The Book of Military Quotations, By Peter G. Tsouras (Jomini)

Dictionary of military and naval quotations, By Robert Debs Heinl (Mahan)

Military Maxims of Napoleon - Maxim LXXVII

This Week In Quartermaster History 4 - 10 November,

U.S. Army Dept., Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad, Field Manual 7-8
Chap 2, “Operations.”