Dividing the Operational Art Pie: What are the Slices

摘要

This monograph discusses the fundamental functions of operational art andassesses how well they are addressed by current doctrine. Its focus is upon operational art as it applies to conventional warfare, that zone where the theater of operations commander views his theater and is concerned about the design and conduct of campaigns. The monograph first examines the definitions of activity, function, and operational art. Next, the writings of several noted theorists are analyzed to determined theoretical functions of operational art. Those theoretical functions were then applied to our current definition of operational art and tested against historical analysis of the following campaigns or major operations: American Civil War Vicksburg Campaign, the World War I St. Mihiel offensive, and World War II Operation Jael and Rhone Valley Campaign.