Hat-tip to Larry Lust for the text of the speech by SecDef to West Point http://www.defense.gov/speeches/speech.aspx?speechid=1539
SecDef outlines 3 challenges to the Army: every single one of them is an F100/Force Management issue. We should add that into our discussions in F101 on “Why are we teaching Force Management?”
Every time I hear that question in the classroom or read it in a student comment, I have to scratch my head, because another way to ask that question is:
“Why should I know how the Army runs?” It boggles my mind, but my mind is easily boggled.
And yet, the question is asked. So, here is what the Sec Def said:
The 3 Sec Def challenges to Army leaders are:
(my comments in parentheses)
1. Get the force structure and capabilities right for an uncertain future;
(a future that we proven that we are unable to forecast; a future that consistently surprises us.)
2. Institutionalize our lessons learned
(in our equipment, in our formations, in our doctrine and in our minds; this touches every single one of the DOTMLPF domains, which is why that is a high-priority educational concept/outcome)
3. Create adaptive leaders and organizations
(in the Operating Force and in the Generating Force, so that when we get surprised by the enemy in our next conflict we will can learn quickly and adapt quickly to meet the new emerging threat)
Every single one of those issues is found within the F100 domain; every single officer needs an appreciation for how this organization is organized to respond to those 3 challenges, so that we can learn to do it better, and so that we have more minds informing our decisions.
That’s why we study Force Management; it’s what professionals do to prepare for the next war.
