CHAPER FIVE:

MILITARY SCIENCE AND ART

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Chapter Learning Outcomes

At the end of this chapter, the trainees should be able to:

• Describe the meaning, fundamental concepts of Military science and
art.
• Explore the sources of laws and direct and indirect laws of military
science and art
• Discuss the interrelationship among Doctrine, Military Science and Art
per-se and with the FDRE Constitute
• Explain the components of Ethiopian Military Science and Art, its
sources and contents in relation with the wars

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 Introduction to Military Science

• Military Science is a system of Knowledge concerning the nature, essence and

conduct of war (armed conflict).
• Examines war and all military affairs (technical & psychological) past and
present in a scientific way and
• Develops practical recommendation for victory in war as part of social science
its developments in line with the development of the society.
• It is the result of social, political, economic, cultural, historical etc. changes.
• The nature and character of war, military organization, training and education
are studied in a scientific method.
• Military geography, technology and armament and their role in the conduct of
war are studied and directed scientifically but the conduct of war is not purely
science
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Military Art

• Military art is the theory and practice of preparing for and

conducting military actions on land, sea, in the air and in
space.
• The study and practice of military science and art applies in
all types and levels of war
• The conduct of war is both science and Art.

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 Foundation of Military Science and Art

• Military Doctrine
• The general direction on which war is conducted are clearly defined in the military
doctrine, hence military science and art based on doctrine.
• So as a base to direct the military strategy operation and tactics in scientific and
Artistic way and win the war.
• Scientific Analysis of war and Army as a source
• The Nature of threat and theatre of war.
• Full analysis of threat strategy and tactics
• The theatre of war / Operation / (terrain, weather etc) its impact and how to fight
scientifically studied.

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Ethiopian Military Science and Art

• Bases:
• High level doctrine
• Philosophical orientation about war and military
• The nature of our enemy and the likely battlefield.
• It consists of basic principles of our military strategy and military
tactics.
• This basic rules and principles are applicable to the war and battle
level

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 Direct battle field Rules

Rule 1. Offensive and Annihilative Approach

Reasons: -
• war of survival
• survival in Ethiopian context has to do with development and good governance

Instrumental arts for the first Rule

[Link] offensive culture and psychological readiness
• At the strategic level
• The whole nation and members of the armed forces must be aware of the war so that we can bring our
political superiority in to play.
• At the tactical level
• Democratic and comradeship relationship between different levels of the members of the armed forces
• Participatory decision making and problem solving process
• Ensure enduring political awareness at unit/formation level
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2. Demonstrate offensive posture
• At the strategic level
• Garrisons (military installation) must be established in areas where we can decisively
react to any would be‘ invasion or threat
• Integrating the military power with civil administration, local militia and the community
so that we can maximize our combat effectiveness, intelligence etc…
• Establish sustainment systems in all garrisons to sustain the force in its defensive and
offensive endeavors
• At the tactical level
• Regiments and Divisions must ensure permanent readiness with maximum possible
sustainment standards
• Ensure continuous up-to-date knowledge of enemy and terrain
• Up-to-date disposition of force consistent with the up-to-date enemy movements
• Clear division of work among units and formations

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[Link]-to-date knowledge about enemy

• At the strategic level

• Up-to-date information about enemy‘s weapons, human resources (moral
etc.. ), doctrine and concept, intention, disposition and capability
• analyzing and Integrating all the information from different sources
• Secure and effective dissemination of information to all concerned bodies in the
war decision making process.
• At the tactical level
• Maximize human intelligence through the local community both armed and
unarmed people
• Continuous deployment of reconnaissance units and gathering information,
carried out counter intelligence
• Establish reporting system from the lowest unit to the center

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[Link] Seize Initiative

• Based on the psychological readiness, offensive posture

and clear knowledge of the enemy;
• Our forces must take always the initiative.
• In other words our plan and our ways of fighting must
dictate the battle field, not the enemy‘s.

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 Rule 2. Off-balance and Annihilate

A. Attacking enemy key linkages and cohesion

• The top command of an operation or battle must focus on the over all
enemy‘s balance
• Enemy strength and vulnerabilities must be identified
• All efforts must focus to exploit vulnerabilities and undermine strengths to
put the enemy off-balance
B. Off-balance to destroy
• Off-balance is a means to destroy the adversary, not an end by itself
• Off-balance must follow by annihilation of the intimidated (demoralized)
and disorganized enemy. Otherwise a clever commander can revive and
reconstitute himself to halt our end state
• Off-balance is a process throughout a battle, an operation and/or a war

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 Phasing
Off-balance phase
• This is the stage where the enemy forces starts losing the war and
friendly forces starts wining it
• Enemy reaction becomes unorganized and unfocused
• Loose coordination and confused communication
• It is an effect as a result of interrelated and well devised process
• Tasks may include: information operation and deception to blind and
force the adversary to make wrong decisions, brief engagements and
clearing small enemy units to facilitate by-pass to the main force and
expose the enemy CoG for the decisive attack and attacking the CoG

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 Annihilative phase

• This phase involves exploitation and pursuit the disintegrated

and intimidated enemy to deny reconstitution and resilience
or flexibility.
• It also involves deepening and aggravating the disintegration
and disorganization of the enemy.
Instrumental military arts to the second rule (Off-balance
and Annihilate)
• Maneuver
• Surprise
• Linking the two phases
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 Rule 3. Concentration of force at a selected direction of attack
Generic criterion to select main attack direction
• The shortest possible path to attack enemy‘s CoG
• Convenience to proceed from phase 1 to phase 2.
• Convenience passage for the attacking force (tank, motorized if applicable)
• Protection and concealment (camouflage)
Steps to select main attack direction
• Identify all possible directions
• Compare and contrast their relative strength and weaknesses based on the main
criterion
• Select a direction with minimum weakness and maximum strength
• Establish supporting relationships b/n the main direction and the subsidiary directions

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Instrumental military arts to the 3rd rule (Rule 3 concentration of force at a selected
direction of attack)

[Link] decisive point, key juncture (connection) and hold back

the enemy in this key juncture
• Has two dimensions: (1) identify the key/decisive points and (2)
exerting efforts in this selected areas
• Concentrate enough force in the decisive points.
• Dispersed combat power may be overwhelmed (besieged) by enemy
combat power and hence lead to defeat; because failure to deal with the
decisive point is failure to deal with the main strength of the enemy
[Link] of force in the main direction consists of:
• Assign enough force in the key juncture to overwhelm the enemy both in quantity
and quality
• Economies of force--- avoid any excess deployment of force.
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Rule 4. Continuous and sequential attack

• Interrelated and harmonized effects through sequential

actions
• The philosophical foundation for this rule is the military
version of ― for every action, there is equal and opposite
reaction which is one of the law of physics.
• Our war is war of survival and hence it involves aggressive
action and reaction; i.e. domination through continuity
sequentially is a must to achieve survival and destruction of
the adversary.

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 Instrumental Military arts for the 4th Rule
[Link] readiness
• to ensure agility
• To sustain the operation and maintain the force‘s offensive posture
• Key tasks:-
• Provide every unit with the required logistical and personnel components.
• The nature of the operation must be determined beforehand and preparation of
ammunition, explosives, medicine etc… must be with the consideration of the
nature of the operation
• Ensure mobility– every unit/formation should be able to move in the shortest
possible notice with its full load of equipment‘s, materiel and personnel.
• Intelligence preparation– it is imperative to prepare, analyze and disseminate
intelligence information to all concerned bodies.

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 [Link] plan

• challenges, frictions and set directions to operational/battle plan must give a sense of holistic
direction, the transformation of the cumulative effects of each activity into full success
• The plan must cover the full spectrum of the war, the operation or the battle
• The plan must predict the foreseeable solve the problems and challenge
• 3. Maintain momentum
• Momentum refers to progressive advance/development and ever-growing action to keep the pace of
the operation and the position you have achieved.
Remember:-the reaction, adaptability and counter measures from the enemy side.
To this effect:
• Know the enemy tactics, intention and mindset
• economic use of force
• Sustain the force by providing the necessary logistical support
• Reconstitute yourself
• Timely correction of mistakes
• Exploit success
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[Link] and effective Maneuver and fire power

• Any offensive operation, especially our way of annihilative approach involves

continuous and effective maneuver and fire.
• Continuity of maneuver keeps the enemy in disadvantageous position and
effective fire supports maneuver
[Link] and maintain one‘s own pace
• Clear division of efforts: assign enough reserve
• Develop contingency plan
• Control combat effectiveness: replacement of retired forces and
replenishment of materiel

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