MCDP-1 Warfighting

Question 1

Define war

Answer 1

War is a violent clash of interests between or among organized groups characterized by the use of military force.

These groups have traditionally been established nation-states, but they may also include any non-state group—such as an international coalition or a faction within or outside of an existing state—with its own political interests and the ability to generate organized violence on a scale sufficient to have significant
political consequences.

Question 2

Define the nature of war

Answer 2

Constant
Means and methods evolve continuously
Moral, mental and physical characteristics and demands
We impose our will on the enemy; he imposes his will on us
War is timeless and ever changing
The nature of war is constant; however, means and methods continuously evolve

Question 3

Identify the levels of war

Answer 3

Strategic
Operational
Tactical

Question 4

Identify the principles of war
(MOOSEMUSS)

Answer 4

Mass
Offensive
Objective
Security
Economy of force
Maneuver
Unity of command
Surprise
Simplicity

Question 5

Identify the maneuver war concepts

Answer 5

Oriented on the Enemy: system
◦ Focus on the enemy. View the enemy as a system and take the system apart.
◦ You don’t take a hill just because it’s a hill, you take it because it gives you leverage against the enemy
◦ Play chess not checkers
Shape the Action: Set conditions
◦ Anticipate, plan, and reflect to set your Marines up for success
Mission Tactics: “The contract”
◦ You owe the how, why, and space to your Marines - Misison, Intent, and Trust
Commander’s Intent: context
Main Effort: Focus and Risk
◦ In order to create a main effort you have to assume risk somewhere else. You never want to inherit risk. You can’t create focus without assuming risk
Combined Arms: Dilemma
◦ You have unsolvable problems, figure them out

Question 6

What are the battlefield dynamics?

Question 7

What are the characteristics of war?

Answer 7

• Moral
  ◦ The hardest part for people to navigate in. Cheating creates a bullshit advantage
• Mental
  ◦ You have to be able to deal with battlefield dynamics to make sound decisions
• Physical
  ◦ This is simply inherent in everything you do

Question 8

Define Combat