strategic v. tactical

[Dave Wilton]

More recent is the DoD Joint Publication 1-02, "Department of Defense
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms," 8 November 2010 (As Amended
through 15 January 2012) at http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/dod_dictionary/

It has:

"strategic level of war - The level of war at which a nation, often as a
member of a group
of nations, determines national or multinational (alliance or coalition)
strategic security
objectives and guidance, then develops and uses national resources to
achieve those
objectives." (316)

"operational level of war - The level of war at which campaigns and major
operations are
planned, conducted, and sustained to achieve strategic objectives within
theaters or
other operational areas." (246)

"tactical level of war - The level of war at which battles and engagements
are planned and
executed to achieve military objectives assigned to tactical units or task
forces." (327)

Generally, tactical operations are the province of battalion commanders and
below; the operational belongs to brigades through corps; and the strategic
to echelons above corps (a.k.a. "echelons above reality").


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
David Barnhart
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2012 8:15 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: strategic v. tactical

I found the following in the _Dictionary of United States Army Terms_ (TM
20-205, 18 January 1944):

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