In Search of an Enduring Military Theory: An Examination of the US Army's Principles of War

This study examines the US principles of war to see if they are potential candidates as the foundation for a timeless and universal military theory. Each is compared to similar fundamental statements made by past military theorists to ensure it is not tied to the twentieth century specifically. Then, each is compared to the military fundamentals of representative cultures from around the world to see if it is unique to American experience. Those principles that survive this process are recommended for consideration as the foundation of a permanent, enduring military theory that can be used as a basis for doctrinal changes as threats and capabilities change in the future. If the US Army had such a theory, doctrinal changes could be made with it as a baseline without having to "reinvent the wheel" with each technological change or threat reorientation. This study recommends the use of six of the eleven principles of war from the 1997 draft of FM100-5 as the potential basis for an enduring military theory, incorporates two of the existing principles into one of the survivors and recommends three be dropped from the list of theoretical fundamentals.