Tactics and Operations Criticizing Maneuver Warfare with LtCol John Meixner
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Oct 31, 2022 LtCol John Meixner, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, critiques maneuver warfare, sharing insights from his extensive military experience. He discusses the abstract nature of MCDP-1, emphasizing the need for clearer frameworks that link theory to practice. The conversation touches on the moral implications of maneuver warfare and critiques military education's effectiveness. Meixner advocates for critical thinking and adaptability in doctrine, highlighting how understanding both the nature and character of war is essential for success.
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MCDP-1 Lacks Integration Clarity
- MCDP-1 inspires deep thinking but lacks clear guidance on integrating air, sea, and land power.
- It does not explicitly address naval or air integration, leaving readers to interpret Marine Corps unique warfighting value.
MCDP-1 Is Hard to Peer Review
- MCDP-1 and related literature are hard to peer review or audit due to vague origins like Boyd's Patterns of Conflict.
- This idiosyncrasy hinders collective knowledge accumulation and slows doctrinal evolution.
Moralizing Maneuver Warfare Risks Bias
- MCDP-1 frames maneuver warfare as morally superior to attrition warfare, creating a misleading virtue-vs-vice dichotomy.
- This moral framing risks overlooking that effective warfighting should focus on winning, not just philosophical purity.
