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Articles by Rick Baillergeon and John Sutherland

Posted on Aug 8, 2014 in Tactics101

Tactics 101 099 – Light Fighters

Tactics 101 099 – Light Fighters

This month Tactics 101 focuses on a light infantry battalion during a training rotation at the National Training Center (Fort Irwin, Cal.), to put some meat on the bone in terms of how to employ light infantry.

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Posted on Dec 12, 2013 in Tactics101, War College

Tactics 101 091 – The OODA Loop, Pt. 2

OODA LOOP Speed Up/Slow Down   “In order to win, we should operate at a faster tempo or rhythm than our adversaries—or, better yet, get inside adversary’s Observation-Orientation-Decision-Action time cycle or loop.”   COL John Boyd USAF (Retired)  LAST MONTH In our last article, we began our look into the OODA Loop.  Within the article, we blended a study of The Battle of Gaugamela in the discussion.  The areas we addressed included: 1) A concise study of The Battle of Gaugamela.  2) The origin of the OODA Loop.  3) The genius of John Boyd.  4) Analysis of the actions of OODA Loop – Observe, Orient, Decide, Act.  5) The OODA Loop in practice at The Battle of Gaugamela.  6) Some final thoughts on The Battle of Gaugamela.  7) Lessons learned from Alexander. As we stated last month, we do not consider ourselves the ultimate experts on the “Boyd Cycle”.  However, we are keenly aware of the benefits of a having a good understanding of the OODA Loop.  Hopefully, this...

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Posted on Apr 9, 2013 in Tactics101, War College

Tactics 101 083 – Targeting

Perhaps no area of military doctrine is tinkered with more than the targeting process. The latest installment of “Tactics 101” puts a bulls-eye on the subject, including such information as how targeting has changed since the War on Terror began.

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Posted on Feb 13, 2013 in Tactics101, War College

Tactics 101 081 – The Assembly Area

This month’s Tactics 101 looks at all aspects of the assembly area: selection, actions of the quartering party, maneuvering from the release point to the assembly area, occupying the assembly area, and maneuvering out of the assembly area.

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Posted on Sep 14, 2011 in Tactics101, War College

Tactics 101 064 – Rehearsals

Rehearsals for combat missions can be a tremendous asset or a colossal waste of time and can cause more harm than good; Tactics 101, the continuing monthly series from Armchair General, examines the good, the bad and the ugly in rehearsals.

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Posted on Feb 10, 2011 in Tactics101, War College

Tactics 101 057 – Smoke Operations

The use of smoke on the battlefield can have a huge positive effect on the ability to achieve victory, but it can be extremely detrimental if not utilized properly. The ongoing series Tactics 101 takes readers behind the smoke screen.

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Posted on Oct 12, 2010 in Tactics101, War College

Tactics 101 054 – The Ground Tactical Plan

“American parachutists — devils in baggy pants — are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can’t sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere…” – found in the diary of a German officer killed at Anzio LAST MONTH In our last article, we continued our mini-series on airborne operations with a focus on The Landing Plan. We keyed on several subjects tied to The Landing Plan. These included: 1) How to Select a Drop Zone, 2) The Different Types of Delivery Methods and Techniques that can be Utilized, 3) The Different Methods Available for Attacking the Objective and 4) How to Plan, Prepare and Execute Assembly Procedures. As we highlighted, it is The Landing Plan which links operations in the air to those on the ground. Consequently, there are many variables that can come into play and much to consider in developing the plan. THIS MONTH As we...

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Posted on Sep 22, 2010 in Tactics101, War College

Tactics 101 053 – The Landing Plan

Tactics 101 continues its series on airborne operations with an in-depth look at developing a landing plan, including Selecting a Drop Zone, Delivery Methods and Techniques, Methods for Attacking the Objective and Assembly Procedures.

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Posted on May 15, 2009 in Tactics101, War College

Tactics 101 038 – Air Assault

Air assault operations! The authors of the continuing monthly series Tactics 100 on the Armchair General Website kick off a string of articles exploring mobile air assault – what it can do, what it can’t, and how to employ it.

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Posted on Jul 14, 2008 in Tactics101, War College

Tactics 101:028 – Commander’s Guidance

Commander’s guidance is principally a tool utilized early in the planning of a mission. If used properly it assists a commander in focusing his staff on developing a flexible plan. This article explores how to use commander’s guidance effectively.

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Posted on Mar 28, 2008 in Tactics101, War College

Tactics 101: 025. Urban Operations: Truisms and Nuggets

“The Thebans immediately closed up ranks to repel all attacks on them. Twice or thrice they beat back their assailants. But the Plataen men shouted and charged them, the women and slaves screamed and yelled from the houses and pelted them with stones and tiles; besides, it had been raining hard all night, and so at last their courage gave way and they turned and fled through the city. Most of the Theban fugitives were quite ignorant of the right way out, and this, with the mud and the darkness, and the fact that their pursuers knew their way about and could easily stop their escape, proved fatal to many.” – Thucydides’ description of Theban troops in the city of Plataea The urban warfare experience has been consistent through the years. The cities are famous: Stalingrad, Berlin, Aachen, Hue, Al Fallujah. Each consumed companies and battalions, some swallowed up divisions and corps, while the worst devoured while armies. The city is not the army’s friend. It’s best to avoid...

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