CALL WAR to
A Proud Legacy of Innovation Inspires New Ways to Fight and Win by RADM Richard P. Terpstra, USN
Surprise attack on American soil... An enemy we did not know well or understand... An enemy who knew more about us than we did about him... An ongoing revolution in warfare... The need to take the fight to the enemy. The Old and the New Many things have changed since a Great Generation rose up to challenge and defeat worldwide enemies bent on intimidation and the destruction of all who opposed them. Surely, World War II tested the character of our nation and demonstrated the importance of innovation and the continuing need for improving the way we fight in the face of unexpected threats and an unpredictable enemy. While times have changed, and technology has accelerated rapidly since the 1940s, lessons and principles of the past still beckon during this current conflict and conflicts yet to come. These lessons call upon the greatness of those in service today to act now at best speed. The global war on terror – and it is a war – or the next war against whatever
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foe may confront us, challenges us to think differently. I believe we can learn a great deal from the aggressive and sometimes risk-embracing mindset of our World War II warriors. Whether through technical and tactical means or sheer tenacity, new and important ways to fight and contribute to the war effort came quickly to those heroes – because they had to! While some of this discussion may fall under the academic or policy realm of “transformation,” my intent is not to add to the multitude of voices touting the need to transform our military capabilities – that chorus is loud and sometimes confusing – but it’s right-on! Rather, my goal is to challenge each wardroom to discuss new ways to fight and to call your attention to warriors of the past and the way they waged war.
Joint Warfare Solutions It’s fitting to preface this discussion by noting the importance of joint warfare. The war on terror highlights the absolute necessity for sharing intelligence, situational awareness, and operational strengths. In order to connect the dots and preempt the enemy, the importance of the network as a weapon cannot be overstated. Against a shadowy enemy operating as an organization that knows no borders, nothing short of an all-source, collaborative, joint and inter-agency full-court press will suffice to preempt terrorist acts and keep us on the offensive. Organizations which work in isolation will become increasingly irrelevant. Both successes and tragedies in Operation Enduring Freedom can be traced directly to battle-space situational awareness – or the
