Comments on: Clausewitz, On War, Book I: Clausewitz and the Marine Corps

By: Danny L. McDaniel

Danny L. McDaniel — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 04:00:44 +0000

One of the foremost,and greatly overlooked, Americans and Illinoian responsibile for the developement and formulation of military doctrine was U.S. Grant who outlined the “Weinburg/Powell” doctrine a full century and quarter before they lent their names to it. In Grants words, “Don’t fight long, don’t fight alone, and make it memorable” (bloodly).

Danny L. McDaniel
Lafayette, Indiana

By: Nathaniel T. Lauterbach

Nathaniel T. Lauterbach — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:58:17 +0000

I, of course, agree generally with this post. I wouldn’t categorize Marine Doctrine as entirely Clausewitzian, but Marine Doctrine is thoroughly laced with Clausewitzian. I would rather say that Marine Doctrine is:

1/3rd Clausewitz
1/3rd Boyd
1/3rd Unique Marine Institutional Memory (Small Wars Manual, Amphibious Operations, Unique views of Close Air Support and use of Aviation in general, etc.)

American military doctrine in general has not always been Clausewitzian. There have been several periods where other thinkers predominated: Jomini, Winfield Scott, Patton/Fuller/Liddell-Hart. American military thought has not always been Clausewitzian, and I think it’s arguable that the real heyday of American military thought of a Clausewitzian variety has only occurred since Vietnam ended. Since that time, MCDP 1: Warfight was released, as well as numerous books that reevaluated the direction of American military strategy (On Strategy, by Summers, comes to mind).

By: SFC SKI

SFC SKI — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:56:19 +0000

Clausewitz is a prominent part of the training for US Army officers as well. I can’t answer for the USN and USAF, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they also give a look at Clausewitz where his principles apply.

Something you should be aware of is that many officers of all branches of the US armed forces serve what are called “joint tours”, so an Army officer might serve on the staff of a US Air Force command, or a Navy officer might go to the Army’s Command and General Staff Course, for example. Not to mention the possibilities for officers to serve on the staffs of, or attend schools of, allied forces.

(Non-Commissioned officers, aka Sergeants and Petty Officers of various ranks, also have some of these opportunities, but generally much fewer)

I find it hard to believe that the Chicagoboyz ranks of commentators don’t seem to include any military members, but I do enjoy reading the military topics you all have introduced here.

By: William F. Owen

William F. Owen — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:38:50 +0000

Mathew Borton: “Additionally it may be that there is a foreign military body that embodies Clausewitz’ ideals even more so than the Marine Corps, but if so, I am not aware of them.”

Well the Israelis are very traditional adherents to Clausewitz. CvC is actually specifically taught in the Political Sciences classes in TA-U. Van Creveld’s criticism of CvC has to be seen in that light. I would also assume that the German Army has some interest in this area.