On Flexibility: Recovery from Technological and Doctrinal Surprise on the Battlefield

by Meir Finkel

This book addresses one of the basic questions in military How can armies cope effectively with technological and doctrinal surprises―ones that leave them vulnerable to new weapons systems and/or combat doctrines? Author Meir Finkel contends that the current paradigm―with its over-dependence on intelligence and an all-out effort to predict the nature of the future battlefield and the enemy's capabilities―generally doesn't work. Based on historical case analysis of successful "under-fire" recovery and failure to recover, he identifies the variables that have determined these outcomes, and he presents an innovative method for military force planning that will enables armies to deal with the uncertainties of future wars "in real time." His proposed method combines conceptual, doctrinal, cognitive, command, organizational, and technological elements to produce optimal battlefield flexibility and adaptability. He then demonstrates that, when properly applied, this method can eliminate most obstacles to overcoming battlefield surprises.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Military History, War

336 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2011

Reviews

[Robert Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was nicely separated between the theory and the case studies. I won't expound deeply: I agree with the main premise that the edge to overcoming surprise rests upon any given commander's shoulders, and that education in the classical sense is likely the best method for offsetting the difficulties associated with surprise, especially as technology becomes a primary threat vector in the 21st century. I am prone to a human-centric worldview, and despite the miracles of technology, we owe it to ourselves, to generationally pass on the art of war through the eternal nature of war and its ubiquity in human affairs at any and every level. I recommend this book.

[Karlen Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why this book isn’t known more in military circles is bewildering. This is a look at how flexibility gives military forces the ability to adapt and overcome surprise in combat.

[Eskild Walnum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meir Finkel dares to state his own conclusions, in contrast to many other military theorist who focus on restating previously written conclusions.
Being an experienced officer himself, Finkel adds some extra reliability to the book. His case studies are relevant to the main thesis of the book, which is how the military best can gain an organizational flexibility to quickly rise after the initial surprise on the battlefield.