Army War College - SSI News

Thompson’s Rifle Battalion: The Original Unit of the Army of the United Colonies (Now the United States Regular Army)

John A. Bonin — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:13:00 GMT

Why is 1775 depicted on the official flag of the US Army? Why did Congress form the Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion as the first non-militia unit in the army of the United Colonies? Who was the battalion’s commander, William Thompson? What happened to Thompson and his rifle battalion during the rest of the American Revolution?

Toward a More Effective DoD Contribution to Strategic Competition in the Western Hemisphere

R. Evan Ellis — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 20:17:00 GMT

Innovative new thinking is needed on the security challenges the People’s Republic of China poses in Latin America and the Department of Defense’s role in the US response, including (1) enhanced security cooperation that helps key democratic partners succeed and provides the United States leverage and situational awareness, and (2) anticipating how the People’s Republic of China may exploit its commercial and other activities in the region in times of war.

Assessing the Effectiveness of US Army Campaigning in the Indo-Pacific

Colonel Richard D. Butler and Jimmy Bell — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 19:49:00 GMT

Applying the military instrument of power is essential to deterrence and assurance in the Indo-Pacific. This essay explores the underappreciated application of Landpower in this critical region and assesses the effects of a few activities that assure allies and partners and deter the People’s Republic of China. The discreet examples in this short article hopefully provide a better foundation for understanding military dynamics in the region and allow for better future assessments of integrated deterrence efforts.

Pretexts for War and the Preinvasion Crisis in Ukraine

Dr. Ron Gurantz — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 19:33:00 GMT

The US strategy in the run-up to the invasion of Ukraine appeared to undermine Russian efforts to justify the war. While studies of international crises typically focus on the goals of deterrence and escalation management, recent events in Ukraine show that counterjustification is another important objective. Russia used covert activities and deception to try and create a pretext for its invasion, and the United States aggressively countered these efforts.

The Growing Significance of China-Russia Defense Cooperation

Brian G. Carlson — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:15:00 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two recent meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, especially his visit to Beijing in May, reinforced US and allied concerns about the China-Russia relationship, especially the two countries’ growing security cooperation. In recent months, US officials have increasingly called attention to the support that China is providing to Russia’s defense industry, which has helped Russia to ...

Lieutenant General Robert C. Richardson Jr.: Central Pacific Theater Army Commander for Admiral Chester W. Nimitz 1943–45

James D. Scudieri — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 16:57:00 GMT

Lieutenant General Robert C. Richardson Jr. commanded US Army Forces in Central Pacific Area and US Army Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas. He served as de facto theater Army commander to Admiral Chester W. Nimitz from August 1943 to June 1945, executing the range of what are now the Army war-fighting and Joint functions.

Risk, Rumors, and Reprisals: The Imagined Side of Professional Writing

Brennan Deveraux — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 14:46:00 GMT

With the Army’s renewed emphasis on professional writing, a disturbing narrative will likely

International Competition in the High North: Kingston Conference on International Security 2022

Pentagon News — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 14:32:00 GMT

Editors: Michael E. Lynch, Howard G. CoombsThe 16th annual Kingston Consortium on International

Future Warfare: Weaponizing Critical Infrastructure

Dr. Carol V. Evans — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Dr. Carol V. Evans, 2020Adversaries are actively targeting US and NATO critical infrastructure,

Military Ethics below the Threshold of War

Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff — Fri, 15 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT

Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff, 2020The future of military ethics will be profoundly affected by competition

A Few Questions About China’s Air Defense Identification Zone and Its Aftermath

Pentagon News — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT

China declared an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea on November 23, 2013

Slowing Military Change

Dr Zhivan Alach — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Author: Dr Zhivan Alach The author looks at the development of military technology in recent years.

From the New Middle Ages to a New Dark Age: The Decline of the State and U.S. Strategy

Dr Phil Williams — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Author: Dr Phil Williams Security and stability in the 21st century have little to do with

The Strategy Deficit

Mr Nathan P Freier — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Author: Mr Nathan P Freier Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our

Doctrine that Works

Dr Douglas V Johnson II — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 04:00:00 GMT

Author: Dr Douglas V Johnson II Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our

Canadian Defense Policy–A breath of Fresh Air

Dr Alex Crowther — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 04:00:00 GMT

Author: Dr Alex Crowther Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly

Training Indigenous Forces in Counterinsurgency: A Tale of Two Insurgencies

Dr James S Corum — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 05:00:00 GMT

Author: Dr James S Corum The author examines the British experience in building and training

Strategic Theory for the 21st Century: The Little Book on Big Strategy

Dr Harry R Yarger — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 05:00:00 GMT

Author: Dr Harry R Yarger The word "strategy" pervades American conversation and our news media and

THIS IS NOT YOUR FATHER’S, OR MOTHER’S ARMY!

Dr Douglas V Johnson II — Thu, 01 Apr 2004 04:00:00 GMT

Author: Dr Douglas V Johnson II Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our