ECU Libraries Catalog

Adaptation under fire : how militaries change in wartime / David Barno & Nora Bensahel.

Author/creator Barno, David W.
Other author/creatorBensahel, Nora, 1971-
Other author/creatorOxford University Press.
Format Electronic and Book
Publication InfoNew York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2023.
Descriptionxiv, 432 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.
Supplemental Content Full text available from Oxford Scholarship Online
Supplemental Content Full text available from Oxford Scholarship Online Political Science
Subject(s)
Series Bridging the gap
Contents Introduction : Why military adaptation? -- Part 1. A framework for analysis -- Understanding adaptation -- The role of doctrine -- The role of technology -- The role of leadership -- Part 2. The recent wars -- Doctrinal adaptation in Iraq and Afghanistan -- Technological adaptation in Iraq and Afghanistan -- Tactical leadership adaptation in Iraq and Afghanistan -- Theater leadership adaptation in Iraq and Afghanistan -- Part 3. Looking to the future -- The challenges of future war -- U.S. military adaptability today -- Recommendations for improving adaptability.
Abstract "Adaptation Under Fire looks at the essential importance of military adaptation in winning wars. Every military must prepare for future wars despite inevitably having little confidence about the precise shape that those wars will take. As former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates once noted: "We have a perfect record in predicting the next war. We have never once gotten it right." Despite this uncertainty, military organizations still must make choices. They must determine the nature of doctrine they will need to fight effectively, the type of weaponry and equipment they must procure to defeat their potential foe, and the kind of leaders they must select and develop to guide the force to victory. Since the U.S. military has global security responsibilities, it will have to make these choices without knowing when, where, or how the next war will unfold, nor even who the enemy may be. It will need to adapt quickly and successfully in the face of the unexpected in order to prevail. The book starts by providing a framework for understanding adaptation, and includes several historical examples of success and failure. The second section examines U.S. military adaptation during the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and explains why certain forms of adaptation have proven so problematic. The final section argues that the U.S. military must become more adaptable in order to successfully address the fast-changing security challenges of the 21st century, and concludes with some recommendations on how it should do so. "-- Provided by publisher.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references and index.
Access restrictionAvailable only to authorized users.
Technical detailsMode of access: World Wide Web
Genre/formElectronic books.
LCCN 2019054868
ISBN9780197661703 (paperback)
ISBN9780190672058 (hardback)
ISBN(epub)

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