Accession Number:

ADA556554

Title:

Preparing the British Army for Future Warfare

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS

Personal Author(s):

• Tilney, Angus M.

Report Date:

2011-12-16

Pagination or Media Count:

108.0

Abstract:

Following protracted campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, the British Army must restructure for the future amidst significant financial restrictions. Since 911, the character of warfare appears to have shifted theories of hybrid warfare are now recognized by British doctrine. With a backdrop of geostrategic uncertainty and financial constraint, how should the British Army prepare for future warfare This research considers the future threats to British national interests and discusses how potential adversaries might employ contemporary approaches to target those interests. By consolidating existing threat projections and analyzing the character of hybrid conflict, the paper suggests that by training for hybrid conflict, the British Army is attempting to address the full spectrum of conflict. Instead, it is recommended that the British Army prioritize its training towards major combat operations while recognizing the enduring changes in the contemporary operating environment. To create the flexibility demanded by hybrid warfare, British military culture should consider reassessing its approaches to education, acceptance of risk, and decentralized command.

Descriptors:

• *CONVENTIONAL WARFARE
• *MILITARY FORCES(FOREIGN)
• *PREPARATION
• *THREATS
• *UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE
• *UNITED KINGDOM
• CLIMATE CHANGE
• CULTURE
• DEMOGRAPHY
• ENERGY
• GLOBALIZATION
• IDEOLOGY
• MILITARY BUDGETS
• MILITARY DOCTRINE
• THESES
• UNCERTAINTY

Subject Categories:

• Military Sciences
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE