Challenges in U.S. Strategic Thinking
In the latest issue of Military Strategy Magazine, Captain Joe McGiffin, the plans officer at Military Way of Innovation (MWI), presents a compelling argument for a shift in the United States' strategic framework for military theory. This new approach emphasizes the integration of cutting-edge technologies and cross-domain operational concepts to achieve political objectives.
McGiffin's article underscores the evolving nature of the US National Defense Strategy (NDS), which is adapting to meet the challenges posed by global power shifts, technologically empowered adversaries, and contested operational spaces beyond conventional battlefields. The strategy emphasizes a comprehensive view of deterrence that encompasses both state and non-state actors capable of leveraging new technologies.
At the heart of this new framework is the use of technology as a critical enabler to achieve political objectives. This includes integrated networked systems, such as the DAF Battle Network, that connect sensors, logistics, communications, and effectors, enabling faster OODA (Observe-Orient-Decide-Act) loops to outpace adversaries’ measure/countermeasure cycles.
The strategic expansion of this framework is reflected in the incorporation of emerging warfighting domains, such as space via the U.S. Space Force and Space Command, aiming to preserve U.S. military advantage in all contested environments.
Moreover, this military theory enables the US to employ technology not just for battlefield superiority but to support broader political goals, such as deterrence, alliance assurance, and disruption of adversaries’ strategic calculations through technological superiority and resilience.
However, McGiffin critiques the United States' understanding of Revolutions in Military Affairs (RMA) theory, finding it flawed. Two case studies are presented in the article to depict the influence of RMA theory on US strategic history.
The article also emphasizes the importance of epistemology, the theory of knowledge, as a neglected analytical tool in crafting cohesive strategy. Without a common theoretical system, a strategy's validity conflates with its popularity.
It is essential to note that the views expressed in the article are those of the author and not the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense. The full article can be read at Military Strategy Magazine.
[1] National Defense Strategy of the United States of America, 2018. [2] National Security Strategy of the United States of America, 2017. [3] National Military Strategy of the United States of America, 2018. [4] McGiffin, J. (2022). A New Era in US Military Strategy: Embracing Technology and Cross-Domain Operations. Military Strategy Magazine. [5] Department of the Army. (2019). Operationalizing the Army's Adaptive Force. Army Operating Concept 2028. Washington, DC: Department of the Army.
- Captain Joe McGiffin's article in Military Strategy Magazine advocates for a revised national security strategy that prioritizes the integration of advanced technologies and cross-domain operations to enhance the Defense Strategy of the United States of America.
- McGiffin's strategy also underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of deterrence, encompassing both state and non-state actors who can leverage technology, in relation to the National Security Strategy of the United States of America.
- In addition to achieving battlefield superiority, this new military strategy emphasizes the role of technology in supporting broader political objectives such as deterrence, alliance assurance, and disruption of adversaries’ strategic calculations, as part of the National Military Strategy of the United States of America.
