Monday, December 21, 2009

Maneuver Warfare Handbook - William Lind


This book introduces several interesting concepts involving tactics and strategy, and reading it has helped to coalesce some ideas that I had hazily had but not defined in a rigorous way. The concepts introduced involve OODA cycling (i.e. 'I win because I act and react faster'), mission-oriented orders ('go and destroy the enemy which is in a certain area using means which are left to your best judgement), surfaces and gaps (basically an extension of the argument that it is foolish to meet strength with strength), and the focus unit- the most important unit in a given battalion, which is carrying a mission corresponding to the overall regiment's goals.

Emphasis is made on avoiding mechanically following orders, acting on initiative, and considering the overall mission of the group. While this sort of thinking was formulated for fighting battles, I can see applications to general management of projects and tasks, as well as for various games (paintball comes to mind, or online video games perhaps).

The wargaming exercises in the back were equally fascinating, due to their focus on putting the theories contained in the book into practice. Additionally of use were the concepts of recon-pull movement and the proper use of the reserve, which was almost the equivalent of the right-cross in boxing.

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