Building Better Strategists

摘要

In 1957 Samuel Huntington defined the peculiar skill of the military officer as 'the management of violence not the act of violence itself.' His dictum holds true today and is made all the more complicated by the wide spectrum of military operations from peace to war and beyond. This environment requires military leaders that can assess and understand the environment in order to create effective strategies incorporating all elements of national power. To do so, officers must not only be able to develop strategies they must be able to communicate them to civilian policymakers and interagency partners around the globe, with an understanding of the strategic cultures involved. Toward this end, the Services must institute language and cultural training, develop more robust, nearly continuous Professional Military Education (PME), and expand opportunities for military members to serve with other Services and civilian agencies These efforts will demand more time and dedication the mainstream officer The investments described in this paper will improve the military's ability to develop coherent strategies in peace and conflict while improving its agility in integrating the capabilities of all armed forces and interagency partners in order to achieve the desired effects of United States policymakers.