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The Next National Defense Strategy: Mission-Based Force Planning
June 18, 2025 — The Pentagon needs to embrace a new methodology called mission-based planning to size and shape the defense enterprise properly. This article summarizes and critiques several proposals for reestablishing the long-standing two major theater war construct in the face of ongoing shifts in the strategic environment, including the nation’s $36 trillion debt and prospects of annual interest payments beyond $1 trillion. Drawing upon four decades of experience in strategy/force planning at the service, the department, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense levels, the author presents a mission priority alternative that provides more strategic prioritization and is more in line with the new administration. Strategic-level service planners and students of Joint professional military education / top-level schools will benefit from the article and better understand the strategic context and key parameters of the internal debate at the Pentagon about the upcoming National Defense Strategy. ... MORE

From the Editor in Chief
June 18, 2025 — Welcome to the Summer 2025 issue of Parameters. The issue consists of one In Focus special commentary and three forums (Indo-Pacific Challenges, Russia-Ukraine Issues, and Historical Studies). In our In Focus forum special commentary, “The Next National Defense Strategy: Mission-Based Force Planning,” Frank Hoffman argues that the Pentagon should embrace a new methodology called mission-based planning to size and shape the defense enterprise properly. He summarizes and critiques several proposals for reestablishing the long-standing two major theater war construct in the face of ongoing shifts in the strategic environment and offers a mission-priority alternative... MORE

Thompson’s Rifle Battalion: The Original Unit of the Army of the United Colonies (Now the United States Regular Army)
April 22, 2025 — Why is 1775 depicted on the official flag of the US Army? Why did Congress form the Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion as the first non-militia unit in the army of the United Colonies? Who was the battalion’s commander, William Thompson? What happened to Thompson and his rifle battalion during the rest of the American Revolution?... MORE

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Book Review: The World Will Never See the Like: The Gettysburg Reunion of 1913
April 8, 2025 — The World Will Never See the Like: The Gettysburg Reunion of 1913, by John L. Hopkins, traces the story of the Gettysburg reunion from its inception in 1908 to its fruition in 1918, covering the community perspective, the veterans’ search for reconnection, spectators’ thoughts on the spectacle, and more. In the words of reviewer Wylie W. Johnson, “The takeaway for senior leaders from this compelling book is the overriding necessity for reconciliation.”... MORE

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Book Review: Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War in Theory and Practice
April 8, 2025 — Today’s force still has plenty to learn about counterinsurgency from Operation Desert Storm. John Nagl’s Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War in Theory and Practice “a book about counterinsurgency and its journey from the far periphery of US military doctrine to its center, for better and, some would argue, for worse.” The reviewer notes, Nagl’s work “provides a tangible example of the impact junior leaders can have on the service.”... MORE

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Book Review: Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI
April 8, 2025 — Zachary E. Griffiths’ review of Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, portrays Ethan Mollick’s book as a concise, easy-to-read tour of artificial intelligence—a user’s guide of sorts. With insightful information about how to use AI, Mollick’s work also covers the history of artificial intelligence and ethical and legal issues that come with using large language models. In his review, Griffiths recommends all Army officers read this book... MORE

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Book Review: Unit X: how the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War
April 8, 2025 — Bureaucracy versus technology. The Pentagon versus Silicon Valley. Is cooperation possible? If you have ever wondered how the US military and civilian technological institutions can work together to America’s advantage, Robert D. Bradford III’s review of Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War explores the story of the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental and its connection to the Department of Defense and Silicon Valley... MORE

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Book Review: Next War: Reimagining How We Fight
April 8, 2025 — In Next War: Reimagining How We Fight, by John Antal, the author’s goal is to “draw lessons and conclusions from the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, the Israeli-Hamas War, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War.” He highlights nine disrupters that he claims are changing modern warfare. Reviewer Jeffery Caton sees room for improvement. ... MORE

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Parameters | Spring 2025
March 20, 2025 — Welcome to the Spring 2025 issue of Parameters. This issue consists of two In Focus special commentaries, three forums (Russian War-fighting Capabilities and NATO Interoperability, Strategic Competition and Managing National Security, and Joint Sustainment Strategies), the regular Civil-Military Relations Corner installment, and a review essay. ... MORE

Book Reviews
March 20, 2025 — Spring 2025 Parameters book reviews... MORE