Decisive Point: The Key to Victory

摘要

This monograph discusses the importance of the decisive point in the design and conduct of campaigns and major operations. It examines the validity of the theoretical presentations of Jomini and Clausewitz concerning the subject matter in respect to current doctrine. The paper proposes a simple process that can be used by commanders and planners to assist in the selection of the correct decisive point when planning major operations. The monograph begins with a discussion of theory concerning the importance and interaction between decisive points and centers of gravity. The decisive point is presented as the key to the enemy's center of gravity. This is followed by a description of the proposed methodology to be used by operational planners to locate not only the enemy's decisive point, but his own as well. Several campaigns are analyzed to determine the dominant characteristics displayed by generally agreed upon decisive points.