Page 43 - Navy Journal 219
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Revisiting Campaign ...
any war and conflict. Military tools are not the only elements on war; media, civil
society, diplomatic echelons all operate side by side. So, the integration of
military strategies, media efforts, diplomatic approach and peoples’ support are
interlinked and nevertheless crucial.
Campaign plan is a necessity for the military officers to grasp. Planning
demands logical sensing and sequencing of events so that we can visualize how
the operations will unfold in a campaign. So, this article takes an effort to
facilitate the understanding of the mid and junior level officers as they need to be
equipped to serve the planners and decision makers in various capacities as the
Staff Officers.
Future conflicts may add enormous complexities emerging from social
sites, global media, multinational agencies, non-state actors etc. As such,
campaign planners must know the art to tie up the efforts of various elements of
war in own favor. Besides, the conflict theatre will have diversified weapons,
sophisticated electronic environment, transnational threats hurling challenges.
Modern armed forces are continuously enhancing their operational and theatre
management capabilities to plan, monitor, respond and make fast decisions in the
theatre of war or conflict. As such, the gradual and institutional grooming of our
military officers in campaign plan is so pertinent.
Aim
The aim of this paper is to revisit the campaign plan in light of levels of
war in order to develop a logical sensing and sequencing of campaign planning
tools.
Tactics, Strategy and Strategic Advantage
Generally, tactics involves the application of forces and weapons to
secure immediate objectives. But, the ultimate outcome will always depend on
the strategy adopted. Strategy is the art and skill of the Generals. But, French
statesman Georges Clemenceau stated, "War is too important a business to be left
to soldiers." This originated the concept of Grand Strategy encompassing the
management of the national elements in conduct of war. No doubt, military
strategy does not operate in isolation. Generals cannot override what the strategic
or grand strategic decision makers want. It involves leadership, peoples’ will,
nationalism, strength and weakness, fighting ability and many other
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