"Fools say that they learn by experience. I prefer to learn by other people's experience."
This lofty assertion came from Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian Prime Minister whose imaginative foreign and domestic policies paved the way for the military victories that led directly to the formation of a united Germany well over a century ago. By "other people's experience" Bismarck of course meant history, and his sentiments have found more graceful expression in statements by recent army leaders. "History sharpens the vision of the skilled commander," General Carl E. Vuono declared several years ago. By placing today's decisions in perspective against those of past commanders, history "infuses with living immediacy the matrix of tactics, logistics, command, terrain, and technology." And according to General Gordon R. Sullivan, former Army Chief of Staff, "History helps me to discriminate the unique from the commonplace, and know that methods of the past, suitably altered, can work in many situations today. My way is lighted for me by the efforts and accomplishments of those who have gone before."
In past years a number of students pursued some topic that was historical in nature for their Military Studies Program writing project. A large number of others also used history, for there is hardly an issue facing the army today where history cannot provide imaginative insights to the student wrestling with his problem. With the inauguration of the SRP writing program there will be students with an interest in historical topics or who will want to use history in support of their projects. The following list Research Papers submitted in past academic years may help you define your interests, broaden your approach, and in the words of General Galvin, "contribute to our knowledge of the human experience."
Reform in the Face of Catastrophic Defeat: Red Army War Experience 1941-1945.
An Historical Study: Gypsies of the Battlefield, The CIDG Program in Vietnam and its Evolutionary Impact
Mobilization and Training Centers: The Critical Link in the Strategic Policy of Global Deployment
Logistics During Grant's Vicksburg Campaign
The First Army Group Commander: Sherman and the Atlanta Campaign
Clausewitz Holy Trinity and Failure in Three Wars: Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Lebanon
Examining the "Minute Man" Paradigm: A Look to the Future
Task Force Smith-A Study of Force Readiness
General John Buford-An Unsung Hero
Operational Intelligence in the Forgotten Theater: ULTRA, MAGIC, and the CBI
Coalition Warfare under John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough
Desert Storm Topical Oral History Project
Economic Aid to the Soviets: The Continued War Against Communism Napoleon's Jena Campaign: A Critical Analysis
Clausewitz for Modern Readers
Grant at Vicksburg: A Critical Analysis
The Indian Wars and National Military Strategy
The Siberian Expedition
Erich Ludendorff-Strategic Leader
General A.P. Hill, CSA, Leader-Warrior: A Study of Military Leadership
The Waterloo Campaign: The Tenets of Campaigning
Historical Account of the 4th Battalion, 37th Armor in Operation Desert Storm
The Philippine Scouts: A Historical Precedence for Americanized Mercenaries
Impact of the Monroe Doctrine on National Security Toward Latin America
An American Titan: General of the Army George Marshall as a Strategic Leader
George Crook and the Indian Wars: Their Contribution to the Evolution of American Military Thought
Clausewitz and Torgau: Link-up on the Elbe
British Logistics in the Falkland Island War: Implications for Sustaining Ground Combat in Remote Areas
Inactivation: Lessons for Building Down Frederick the Great: Quick study of a Strategist North African Campaign and Case Study
MG Leonard Wood, Soldier-Diplomat: A Study in Political and Military Leadership
Antietam Staff Ride
North Africa Campaign and Case Study
Operation "Husky," The Invasion of Sicily: A Case Study
New Force Structure of the Contingency Corps
Separate Brigades as Round Outs for Partial Divisions
Characteristics of Chemical Wars in the Past
The 106th Infantry Division: Mobilization Lessons to Prevent Unit Disintegration
The following list of topics is offered for students looking for Strategic Research Project writing topics. The list is by no means inclusive, but intended to demonstrate the wide range of issues which can be supported by available historical research material and faculty. If you are interested in the topic or a related topic, consult your seminar historian, or contact the office of the Director, Military History for assistance.
Air Power: Topics on air power and the U.S. Air Force. The Air war and its role in Vietnam and recent conflicts.
Alliances: Are personalities important in the fashioning and maintenance of alliances? Study one or more of the U.S. alliances formed to wage war or conduct police actions with the objective of discerning the impact of the human dimensions of the members of the alliance.
American Civil War: Study the 1862 reorganization of the Union Army. Attempt to determine how George McClellan was able to combine the Army of Virginia and the Army of the Potomac on the march following the Union defeat at 2nd Manassas and prior to the battle at Antietam, September 1862.
American Indian War: The investigation of the clash of cultures and the political/economic implications of the American Indian wars may illuminate some of the current and future challenges of U.S. involvement in ethnic conflicts.
Coalition Operations: Possible topics include a search for principles, necessary traits in commanders thereof, or characteristics necessary for success or which have led to failure in such operations. Campaigns for study include WWII, Pacific and European theaters, and Lebanon, 1982.
Command and Signal: Using communications and deep intelligence as themes, study the employment of signal operations during the Antietam Campaign.
Courage: Resignation in protest or over conflict of principles is often mentioned as the correct decision for senior leaders when in disagreement with political leaders. General Ridgway resigned in protest to downsizing plans by the Eisenhower administration. What was the impact of his action on the Army and his political masters?
Joint Operations: Study early U.S. efforts at conducting joint operations with a study of Civil War operations against Vicksburg during Grant's 1863 Campaign.
Leadership: Military history and biography can teach much about leadership. Select an event in history or a leader who succeeded or failed and come to your own conclusions about leadership and the qualities of successful leaders.
Military Reformers: Two great military thinkers of the 19th century, Emory Upton and John A. Logan, had diametrically opposing views on how the readiness of the U.S. Army could be improved. This topic also lends itself to a study of the merits of regular soldiers versus reserve components.
Military Technology: Technology has altered the face of battle with each new invention. Conduct a study of selected items of military technology addressing its use, impact, timeliness, and impact on warfare. The Military History Institute has considerable material available to support this kind of research.
Military Technological Revolution: The Military Technological Revolution promises to reshape warfare over the next twenty years. What are the emerging technologies with the greatest military potential and how will they influence the Art of War?
Military Theorists: Insights on the art of war from the period of the American revolution influenced 17th and 18th Century theorists, and vice versa.
Mobilization: Are there important lessons yet to be learned from the mobilization planning conducted at the Army War College in the interwar years, 1920-1940?
Operational Art: European theater of war operations in WWII afford opportunities to study the evolution and practice of the operational art. Possible topics include a study of the battle in the Huertgen Forest and the American response to the 1944 German offensive in the Ardennes. Peace Support Operations: Any study on the Congo Operation would be valuable. The Congo resembles some of the problems now in Somalia and former Yugoslavia.
Readiness: Speculations on readiness. Consider how the Unit Status Reports (USRs) for the Army of the Potomac, or the Army of Northern Virginia might have read on 13 September 1862.
Roles and Missions: Change is never easy, especially when change means reshaping something near and dear to the institution. Study the great cavalry debate, 1865-1920, and learn how the cavalry branch was reshaped by reality.
Round Out Units: Will a greater reliance on round out units result from downsizing the force? Will reserve officers be at risk of replacement by active duty officers in future call-ups? A well-written study on these and related topics has the potential for contributing to the meaningful discussions among today's policy makers on these issues.
Special Operations/Unconventional/Guerrilla War: WWII documents on this topic are now available for anyone interested. Additionally, there is documentation for more recent missions. Dr. Partin, the command historian of USSOCOM, has offered to provide all of his files and interviews to any researcher at AWC.
Strategy: Undertake a study of Robert E. Lee's 1862 Maryland Campaign. Match Lee's military objectives with the strategic objectives of the Confederacy.
U.N. Operations: Any historical appraisal on previous U.N. operations or peace enforcement such as Cyprus.
War Plans: Conduct a study to determine the extent and quality of war planning conducted at the Army War College pre-WWI or during the period between the first and second world wars.
War and the Militia: Research actions taken by the Army in 1941-42 to provide wartime senior leadership for the activated National Guard Divisions. In the early days of WWII, large numbers of senior National Guard officers were replaced by younger Regular officers which had an impact on the Army during the war years and continues to this day.
