Lexington & Concord 1775

LTC Francis SmithLTC Francis SmithRoyal ArmyRoyal Army

““The Shot Heard Round the World…”The Shot Heard Round the World…”

““Warlords:”Warlords:”Adams & HancockAdams & Hancock

““NCA:” NCA:” George III George III

“What We See Usually

Depends On Where We Sit”

Introduction ToIntroduction To Military HistoryMilitary History

History/Heritage Instruction

Critical Thinking/Analysis

Pre-Commissioning/

Initial Entry

INTER-MEDIATE

LEVEL

SENIOR LEVEL

- HERITAGE- HISTORY OF ARMY- BATTLE ANALYSIS INTRODUCTION- STAFF RIDE INTRODUCTION

- ADVANCED HISTORICAL CONCEPTS- ADVANCED BATTLE ANALYSIS- STAFF RIDE EXECUTION

- APPLIED HISTORY- STRATEGIC ANALYSIS- ANALYSIS OF STAFF RIDE

MS 494 : The History of theAmerican Military Experience

Professional Military History:

ExplainsExplainsnot

“Entertains”

PROFESSIONALMILITARY HISTORY

Is NOT about:Names, Places, Dates

Heroes, Villains, CausesTradition, Legacy

“Lessons Learned”Validating Current Doctrine

IS about:Trends, Patterns, Process

Concepts, Culture, RelationshipsTheory vs. Practice

The “Nature” of WarEvaluating Current Doctrine

Develops and Refines Your Develops and Refines Your Professional Critical Professional Critical

Thinking and JudgmentThinking and Judgment

• History “proves” nothing, but it illuminates a great deal

• The power of history lies in its suggestiveness, and in the

power of discernment it conveys to its user

• The great value of history in the practical world is in the

habit of mind that it encourages:

– Unwillingness to accept arguments based on simplistic

assumptions

– Understanding of how, bias, perception, cause and effect

work

“Nature” of History

Continuity In Military CultureContinuity In Military Culture

- Petronius Arbiter 210 BC

“We trained hard but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.”

The “Basics”

Light Infantry Light Cavalry

Heavy Infantry Heavy Cavalry

Artillery

English English SoldiersSoldiers Break the Charge Break the Charge of Scots of Scots “Warriors”“Warriors” at Culloden, 1746 at Culloden, 1746

Military History Objective

“To teach the officer how to teach To teach the officer how to teach

himself should be the avowed himself should be the avowed

objective of every courseobjective of every course

in military history”.in military history”.

Prof. Jay Luuvas

MS 494The History of the American Military Experience

The TEXT:Weekly on-line Quizzes, Midterm and Final Exams

Articles/Podcast Reviews

Book Review &Presentation

Participation

Like drinking from aLike drinking from aFire HoseFire Hose