Lessons from the Kriegsakademia. A Reflection of the Present. A Road Map for the Future

摘要

Precisely defining and responding to change can determine life or death for any organization. In the case of the armed forces, it can determine the continued existence of nations. Thus, when speaking of revolutions in military affairs (RMA), we must be especially careful about defining and responding to change. The rapidity and global nature of today's change, coupled with new military technologies, give the impression that we-like the characters in Star Trek-are 'boldly going where no one has gone before.' With the exception of the technological level, however, we believe that our age is not exactly uncharted territory and that a historical road map can help us navigate the future. Toward this end, we briefly cover some historic events we think are analogous to today's events-specifically, some Prussian reforms and their generally agreed upon effects. We then point out some of the challenges we face today. By juxtaposing the Prussian experience with that of the present age, we present both a framework for discussing the RMA and our recommendations for best approaching the future.