Harry R. Yarger, “Toward a Theory of Strategy: Art Lykke and the Army War College Strategy Model,” In U.S. Army War College Guide to National Security Issues. 5th ed. Vol. II, ed. J. Boone Bartholomees, Jr., (Carlisle Barracks, PA: U.S. Army War College, June 2012), 45-50.
Balance of ends, ways, means to minimize risk as a nation pursues their interests.
Definitions
Strategy: The comprehensive direction of power to control situations and areas in order to attain objectives
In AWC, strategy is the focus of nation-states and the use of the elements of power (DIME)
Ends (objectives): the "what" is to be accomplished. Ends are expressed with verbs (deter war, promote regional stability, destroy Iraqi forces).
Ways (strategic concepts / COA's): Explain "how" the ends are going to be accomplished by the employment of resources. As a test, ask, "in order to do what"? If you're doing this correctly, it should lead to the objective.
Risk: Explains the gap between what is to be achieved and the concepts and resources available to achieve the objective.
Means (resources): Explain what resource are to be used in applying the concepts to accomplish the objectives. Do not use verbs.
Assumptions
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Interests: survival, economic well-being, enduring national values
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Premises
- Strategy is about how (ways/concept) leadership will use the power (means or resources) available to the state to exercise control over sets of circumstances or geographic locations to achieve objectives (ends). p. 45.
Strategy is not crisis management.
- Strategist must understand the ends they are trying to achieve and the internal and external environment.
- Strategy must achieve balance between objective sought, methods used to pursue it, and the resources available
- Political purpose must dominate all strategy.
- Strategy is hierarchical. NSS --> NDS --> NMS --> Theater strategy
Strategy differs from operational art and tactics in geography, functional, temporal aspects.
- Strategy is comprehensive.
- Strategy must come from a thorough understanding of the strategic environment/situation.
- Some risk is inherant to all strategy; goal is to balance and minimize as much as possible.
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