Command and Staff College

Operational Art Requirements in the Korean War Command and Staff College

Publisher Marketing: Historical examples are an expedient way to develop an understanding of operational art theory and concepts. A historical illustration of both operational success and failure is the Korean War. Several aspects of the Korean War remain relevant to operational art in contemporary conflicts. It had a complex and evolving strategy, a dramatic interplay of tactical success and failures, uncertainty and miscalculation, shortages of means to accomplish ends, and the difficult challenge to set the conditions for a satisfactory conclusion to the conflict. An examination of three distinct operational periods in the Korean War using the requirements of operational art as described in Army Doctrinal Publication 3-0 Unified Land Operations will reveal whether operational art was a factor in success or failure. This monograph argues that the commander met the requirements for operational art in two of the three periods observed. Consequently, these two phases resulted in operational success and contributed to the strategic aim. Additionally, this monograph will show the design and execution of operations the requirements of operational art is a prerequisite for success in the pursuit of strategic objectives.