[Conference Program for the Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia] Slide: 4 of 8
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2340-USAR
INSTRUCTOR SET
resistance and was merely pecking--aVAt the rsaaiatance. As soon as the battalion started
movingts forces t ore famwrable pos ios is combat power into play at a
critcal-p int, the battalion could continue the advance. Maneuver must be applied by use
of fire and movement h _-he-gimnt. One of its ingredients- it-
is a relative term. The bat.aljan moving on foot,-that can place itself in a better position
with rl1i o the enemy, possesses nbili34y.
1) The essence of the principle of mass issyganntration-Atthe decisive lace and
time and em action. Mass or concentration rers o com -atpower
no merelfnumbers of individuals. Combat ower is the sum total of leadership, firepower,
fighting skill, supply, as well as the num F~T o oops involved. Utilize overwhelming pr
at the critical point.
(2) In the regiment. and-ba.Uin, we emphasize _the control of artillery fires. We
endeavor to retain the !xibility of supporting weapons. Wedq this inorder to achieve mass-
-the concentration of c r. In the assignment of terrain objectives and times o~
atta k,~we are keeping d the principle 'of mass in that we desire the c6ffmiilderwto con-
centrate his combat power ata critical point at a specific time.
_.--E c~my of Force.
(1) We mentioned earlier that the principles of war were interrelated. The principle
of economy of force goes hand-in-hand with the principle of mass. 'o eect mass, ,jti
essential to exercise economy in thesr h re assigned t rerinn _y missions. Use
the' t sf .- In determining the minimum combat power,
the commander must weigh carefully the demands of combat and assure himself that in effecting
economy of force, he is providing adequate combat power to accomplish the secondary effort and
is likewise making available a-maximum force to fulfill his mAin effort.
(2) The commander that utilizes a rifle company to ard his command post is violating
the principle of economy of force. If hegttEmpts !o 5arison his defensive sector "wiyt1.
entire_.muand, without iring nut 1 aerve. he is violating the pr_:E6iple of economy of
force. In the attack, if one of his units is stop ep and sends another
the attack atth s e i voat2 e r
economy~ rce. If the commander has e -aKPs, an overstrength headquar ers company, and
other overstrength units at the .expense of his fighting units, he is violating"-he principle
of economy of force.
f. Unity of Command.-
(1) Each effort should have a single responsible a zm~dmnner-.n# nntrxlthe ;.sin leness
Sof wch 3roduc results. This principle was formerly called c2p 9on-
which implies full cooperation on the part of all subordinates under a single command to
accomplish the common mission.
(2) When a mortar company is moving when it should be firing on critical targets,
the mortar company c'o iAnis Th"t-tl r t1e principle of unity of command. When the comjanger
7 of the pottingtanks argues ao t whetier~ ytaaiks are being yrly emploed instead of
goingaheadand getting the job done, he is violating the rinciple of unity of command. When
the battaln commander does not p ress_hisattack, but mere waits for the enemy to retire~
at his own volition, that battalion commander is violating the principle~~f unity of coamnand. 9 e
Simplicity.
(1) Combat breeds confusion and even the simplest of actions can become hope~le..ly
snarled. To compensate r war, plansmust bemade-icbare easily understandable4
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United States. Army. [Conference Program for the Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia], presentation, March 23, 1956; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth743669/m1/4/: accessed June 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Pioneer City County Museum.