Morale-The 10th Principle of War: Returning the Art to the Science of War

摘要

This paper argues that adding 'Morale' as the 10th Principle of War will re-inject the art of war into an eighty year old 'scientific approach' first adopted by the United States War Department in 1921, and will thereby increase our ability to successfully accomplish the mission, in both peace and war. Adoption of morale as the 10th principle will synchronize consideration of its characteristics with those of the nine principles-objective, maneuver, surprise, simplicity, mass, offensive, unity of command, security, and economy of force-currently recognized by the United States armed forces. And, perhaps most importantly, adoption of morale as the 10th principle will serve to constantly require consideration of its attributes in the consciousness of national and military leadership, the experienced warrior, and the green recruit.