Strategy Wins (Sun Tzu vs USNA)

Dean Caravela

Strategy Wins

There are many ideas incorporated into Sun Tzu’s Art of War. The piece covers a wide variety of aspects and features Sun Tzu’s opinions on the matter. These opinions are not direct, however described and laid out for the reader to determine. His take on these aspects of war in his work lead for his philosophy to be interpreted as to always have an ordered plan and well executed strategy when dealing with warfare. His ideas in the text feature many examples of the importance of strategy and having a level head in war. He states that the, “Skillful Strategist defeats the enemy without doing battle, captures the city without laying siege, overthrows the enemy state without protracted war,” (Tzu 16). This is a layout of the benefits Sun Tzu believes a skillful strategist has in warfare. These positive factors contribute to the over-arching philosophy of his piece in that it supports the importance of having a good strategy. Comparing this to the Naval Academy, there really is no difference in the techniques and tactics taught. At USNA, strategy comes into play every day. It is something can be related directed to the mission statement, “….to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically.” On the moral side of the statement, having a strategic plan in developing skills of leadership throughout the four years here is very important. Being able to strategically choose to partake in opportunities that will aid in moral development is something all midshipmen should strive for. This strategy will ensure that midshipmen are morally ready to be leaders in the fleet. Strategy is almost most important in the mental aspect of the statement. This is because this aspect relates to academic success. Students will not thrive or sufficiently gain a beneficial education without having strategies for success or a plan of attack to tackle the rigorous academics at this institution. There is even a learning skills course at USNA dedicated to help create these strategies for academic success. Too often than not do students at USNA fall short of their academic goals or requirements due to poor planning. It is also pertinent to have a strategy when dealing with the physical side of this school. The Physical Readiness Test is something that haunts many midshipmen and creates an extra burden to the already busy life of the academy. Having a good strategy of work outs and even execution of the exercises on the test proves to be very beneficial in passing. This also applies to athletics. Division 1 athletics is no joke at all. Thus, a dedicated athlete must be strategic in their preparation and performance in order to gain success in their respective sport. An athlete that slacks and does not plan properly for their upcoming practices and events will certainly not find triumph and fall behind their teammates and demands of the sport. Based on these comparisons, to the Art of War and USNA, the close similarity they share shows the importance of strategy. Hence, I think the most effective way is to have a good strategy. It is tough to find failure in a poor plan. Even if a good plan does fall through, more often than not will a follow up plan close to the same lines of the original be beneficial for success. So whether it is war, or the daily rigors of the US Naval Academy, strategy wins.

Sources: Sun Tzu’s Art of War

Word Count: 579

Mongolian Conquest

The Mongolian Empire draws some very interesting parallels to the Empire from the Star Wars saga. In the Star Wars saga, the Empire is depicted as the catalyst for war and fear throughout the span of space. Their ultimate goal was control of the entire universe, taking out one planet at a time. Similarly, the Mongolian Empire was hungry for conquest as well. Strategically, both empires carried similarities as well. In the saga, Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader’s empire plans to control the universe by taking over planets one-by-one. Genghis Khan also carried this trait as well. As the Mongols pushed West, hoping to one day conquer Europe, they took over civilizations one at a time.

Using superior military tactics and complete slaughter of the opposition, the Mongols used their power to take what they wanted. They used tactics, like cavalry and catapults, to gain an advantage over their opposition. I think this is an interesting parallel to the Empire as well, as they also used military force and technology to gain an advantage. For example, the Empire, under direction of Palpatine, built a superior weapon known as the Death Star that could destroy entire planets. They used this to their advantage to begin the spread of their rule.

Another similarity between the two is a creation of an identity for the empires. In Star Wars, the Empire, and those aligned with its cause, become a community over the idea that they will one day rule the universe. This mutual identity bonds them and creates a sense of unity amongst those believing in one cause, even if they are from different planets entirely. Similarly, Genghis Khan helped form this sense of community in the Mongolian rule as well. Before the Mongols were unified, they were a nomad people consisting of many tribes that were not often associated with one another as a sole community. However, Khan gave them a sense of unity and a cause that the Mongols rallied around and began to work together.

One final similarity between the two is that the end of both empires can be traced back to a specific event. In Star Wars, the Empire is effectively defeated after Luke Skywalker and the Rebellion destroy the Death Star and stop their conquest across the galaxy. The Mongolians are dismantled at the Battle of Ayn Jalut, which pretty much put the nail in the coffin for the empire. Ogedei Khan had died on the conquest to Europe, which halted the advance, and the defeat at Ayn Jalut dismantled the empire completely years later.

Similarities can be found between the Empire and our own government today, as well. For example, our nation plays a role as the “global peacekeeper” to other nations. We enter into conflicts solely to attempt to keep peace and to also showcase our power. Similarly, this is what the Empire does as well. The Rebels resist the establishment of the Empire and fight for their freedoms and what they think is right. According to the Odyssey, the rebels can be compared to groups like ISIS today. They play this part because they are “fighting for what they deem a ‘just cause.’” However, both the United States and the Empire attempt to quiet these groups for their own causes. Additionally, the United States attempts to control the beliefs and actions of other nations, much like the Empire did. As the Empire destroys and conquers planet after planet in the Star Wars universe, Princess Leia says a memorable quote to Grand Moff Tarkin: “The more you tighten your grip, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.” This is an interesting metaphor we can make for our current stance on being a global peacekeeper. I believe this is a debate worth having, whether the risks of being this dominant super power are worth all of the conflicts we find ourselves in.

Word Count: 648

Sources:

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-empire-and-trump

Sun Tzu vs. USNA

Sun Tzu’s Art of War is definitely a collection of knowledge that should be taken to heart when preparing to become a military leader in the heated political and social environment we live in today. Throughout his text, Tzu stresses the importance of intellect in all areas of life. Whether this be knowledge of your own being, of the territory you will be conducting your war efforts in, or of your enemy, Tzu states that an effective leader needs to be competent in a wide variety of topics of war. Tzu makes this abundantly clear as he says that “victory belongs to the side that scores the most in the temple calculations before battle”, showing that this knowledge which is required of our leaders is vital to our success as a military and that it needs to be well developed far before our engage in combat (Chapter 1).

I find that Sun Tzu has an extremely familiar philosophy to that of the United States Naval Academy. Here art USNA, we are put under strong pressure every day in order to prepare ourselves for the stresses of war that we will be experiencing after four short years. Throughout this time, we gain knowledge of ourselves, our own military, and of the military of our adversaries. This falls directly in line with the main concept surround Tzu’s teachings, especially with his statements made in Chapter 7. When saying that “If you march fifty miles in order to outmaneuver the enemy, you will lose the leader of your first division, and only half your force will reach the goal. If you march thirty miles with the same object, two-thirds of your army will arrive” he shows that a leader needs to be extremely knowledgeable of his/her own people, especially when in high stress situations. It is very easy to lose sight of your own people when your main goal is defeating your enemy.

Over all, I think that the strategies of USNA and Sun Tzu follow the same basic principles but I do see some advantages of Tzu’s teachings which should be implemented into the studies at the Academy. Tzu stresses the high importance of being able to overcome your enemy without using force. Being able to negotiate with your enemy, break the alliances that your enemy has, or financially weakening your enemy are all great practices that we do not cover in great depth. These ideas would encourage Midshipmen to think outside of the box more often when looking for solutions and could potentially save lives on both sides of conflict.

Word Count: 429

Blog Post 4

In Sun Tzu’s Art of War the overarching philosophy seems to be one of execution and care. It is stated in the “Laying Plans” section, the first topic in the book that “the art of war is of vital importance to the State.” The quote symbolizes the importance of tactical decisions, and careful consideration from military commanders to perform their duties. This is an important lesson taught to us at the Naval Academy through our leadership and ethics classes, but also through our military professors who take the time to share their experiences with us.

The part that stands out most to me is point three in this section. It speaks of “Five Constant Factors” in which the art of war is governed. The five points include “The Moral Law; Heaven; Earth; The Commander; Method and Discipline.” In our leadership classes we are constantly asked questions regarding moral decisions, and how to lead sailors and marines properly. This is a foundation that the Naval Academy tries to teach us, because it is imperative for decision making in stressful situations. I believe Sun Tzu understood this and wanted his soldiers to practice this in combat situations. As for heaven and earth I believe that aligns more with the spiritual side of an individual; at the Naval Academy we are free to practice our own spiritual beliefs, and that helps reinforce the moral side of things. It is hard to make moral decisions if one doesn’t look inside their self for improvements, and it is hard to earn respect from subordinates if they do not do this.

The Commander is a huge aspect in the United States military. We are taught from day one to take respect anyone of superior rank. For example, on I-Day we take the oath which states we will “obey the orders of those appointed over us,” this ranges from officers all the way to the President. In order to have a strong, tactful force the members of that force must have full faith and allegiance to its commanders. Wang Tzu is quoted with “Without constant practice (speaking of moral law), the officers will be nervous and undecided when mustering for battle,” strengthening the importance of faith in commanders. If the forces see a nervous leader they will lose confidence, and this is the reason that confidence is pounded in our brains. This confidence is based upon point five, method and discipline. Obviously, our methods and discipline have evolved over time, but both have importance in our respective forces. The stronger discipline and proven methods create confidence, and for a powerful, well trained force, these attributes create a deadly force.

It is impressive to see parallels between the forces of today and yesterday. To see these parallels just reinforces the necessity of a strong foundation.

Word Count: 467

http://www.idph.com.br/conteudos/ebooks/suntzu10.pdf

The Art of War at USNA

When we examine the military strategies of ancient empires, we so often look at what failed. We want to know what went wrong, so that we do not repeat the same mistakes. We rarely stop to consider what went right, because more often than not, we have incorporated successful innovations into our daily lives without even realizing where they come from. That is why when I looked at Sun Tzu’s Art of War, I expected it to be outdated, and full of differences between what is taught at the Naval Academy. I was vastly wrong.
One of Sun Tzu’s over-arching points is that knowledge wins wars, and the importance of being prepared, as he says, “To be prepared beforehand for any contingency is the greatest of virtues”. When I think back to plebe summer, when we were indoctrinated into USNA, I think of my detailers screaming out what training day it was, and telling us that we had better be ready for the fleet in four years. From the very beginning of our time at the Naval Academy, we are taught to be prepared. During the academic year, and during the summers, we are exposed to countless opportunities that are meant to give us knowledge on the world that we are expected to be leaders in. This philosophy of knowing as much as possible to prepare oneself is what we are taught at the Naval Academy—I know for me, I chose the Naval Academy over a ROTC scholarship at a civilian school, because I knew that if I wanted to become a Naval Officer, then I would want to prepare myself for this role as much as possible. Yet, this simple philosophy is age-old, and proven to be effective as seen by all who have employed Sun Tzu’s strategy.
Sun Tzu also offered a philosophy on leadership that I think mirrors the type of leaders that the Naval Academy hopes to develop. He says that “When one treats people with benevolence, justice and righteousness, and reposes confidence in them, the army will be united in mind and all will be happy to serve their leaders.” At the Naval Academy, we are given leadership positions that are meant to build up confidence, such as the position of a squad leader. Whether they play a positive or negative role on a midshipman’s view on leadership, there is no denying that their influence shapes the members of their squad’s viewpoints.
Ideally, I think that the philosophy of preparation and learning that both Sun Tzu and the Naval Academy preaches is pretty effective. It, of course, depends on the person too, and how much they are willing to be open to learning from the experience. Take, for example, our youngster cruises: there were plenty of opportunities to learn about what to expect in the fleet, but there were also plenty of opportunities to take very long naps. It all depends on creating the type of culture that fosters a mindset that encourages wanting to be prepared and to learn more. Take, for example, the Forrestal Lectures that are given frequently at the Naval Academy. During Plebe Summer, my detailers would tell us about how they were wastes of time and that they would sometimes bring a book, or schoolwork, so that they would not “waste” time during the lecture. However, if you have the attitude that at least you are going to learn from these lectures, they can actually be kind of interesting.

The Art of Life

Sun Tzu’s overarching philosophy in the Art of War is to win the small battles before fighting the big ones. The key to winning the small battles is “strategy itself”(15). He includes many compelling arguments in his strategy for winning battles within one’s own army as well as against the enemy. Sun Tzu first introduces his five fundamentals to abide by when planning a war, the Way, Heaven, Earth, Command, and Discipline. Each of these fundamentals assess the conditions of the war by comparing personnel on each side and their inner values for which they fight with and for. Then, the ruler or leader deliberates the fundamentals to predict the outcome for each side. The strategy shifts to the offensive and Sun Tzu gives direction on when and how to engage the enemy. Tzu says “with forces ten to the enemy’s one, surround him with five, attack him; with two, split in half, if equally matched, fight it out; if fewer in number, lie low; if weaker, escape… know when to fight and when not to fight…[and] be ready for the unexpected”(7). He says to know two sides, the enemy and yourself, for it will lead to victory. If a side is not known, each victory will suffer a defeat. Therefore, the first step to victory is knowing one’s own personnel and then comes conquering the enemy. The key to understanding one’s own side is to promote a common goal to strive for. Recognizing and adopting this strategy in Sun Tzu’s steps will achieve success.

The Naval Academy focuses on training with the Navy’s core values of honor, courage, and commitment. It is the assumption that those who abide by the values will succeed, similar to Sun Tzu’s fundamentals. However, these values are not defined relative to a specific situation but are named as traits to possess when fighting. The emphasis at the academy is to keep the core values in mind while training hard and preparing for the worst case scenario. The class of 2021’s motto says “in order to preserve peace, we must prepare for war”, which means midshipman must train at a high level everyday to hopefully make the smaller battles easier to conquer and the harder ones a little easier. Battles at the academy are not always life and death situations, midshipman often perform in parades and take part in formations. These are the instances midshipman view as battles because they are monotonous, they do not quite equate to anything in the fleet, and they are an inconvenience to midshipman. The guidelines for these battles and evolution’s can be found in a source called midregs. Midregs instructs midshipman to live honorably, courageously, and with commitment in addition to outlining what is morally and legally wrong to do. The documents midshipman abide by lack the specificity and direction to guide mids towards a precise goal. It expresses a midshipman’s limitations and not their freedoms. The absence of clear guidance can be good for innovation but lacks definitive instruction for the brigade to follow. The downside of not possessing direct tactics is it can make a battle longer and harder than it has to be.

Sun Tzu’s tactics are more effective because they provide line by line strategic responses to specific scenarios. On the contrary, at the naval academy it is very easy to lose sight of what one is fighting for because there are no specific goals in mind. It can be hard to find motivation if the outcome is ambiguous. Often there are training evolution’s and classes that make midshipman question why exactly they are doing them and how it fits into the grand scheme of things, which makes it harder to find the motivation to persevere. Sun Tzu raises set guidelines in offensive and defensive scenarios that give direction on what specifically to do. The naval academy provides rules such as midregs and the constitution which tells midshipman what not to do. The ambiguity in training leaves massive holes in brigade cohesion because each midshipman has their own agenda. Multiple people working towards a common goal is the best way to victory.

—Ariana McKenzie

Word count: 640

Source: Sun-tzu, The Art of War. Trans. John Minford. London: Penguin, 2009.

War as Art

Sun Tzu’s Art of War is a philosophical document that explains the terms of a War and what is needed to find success in War. The document seems familiar to me, as many of the things that Sun Tzu says, can parallel to different things that I have learned during my time at the Academy.

Early in to the list, Sun Tzu says that people must be in complete accord with their ruler, so that the rulers will be followed regardless of danger or chance of death. At the Academy, you can receive a major conduct offense for actions that do not align with following your “rulers” orders to a T. This is an example of how we are taught to follow orders exactly. Not only can you receive an offense, but plebe summer consists of 7 weeks of doing exactly that. This engrains a thought process into the students here that all orders must be followed, no matter your opinions on them. Another parallel between what we learn here and the Art of War is the philosophy that War is heavily based on deception and planning. We take several classes here, and will continue to study tactics for the rest of our military career. We learn that it is never smart to challenge others head on, or exhaust all resources for little gain. This is revolutionary as prior to Sun Tzu, many wars consisted of two nations battling large battles in brute force attacks. Also, Sun Tzu makes it clear that every battle does not have to be fought. It is acceptable to flee from battles where it is clear you are outmatched. Generally, Sun Tzu is saying that War is an art, and that letting your pride or anger get in the way will cause disaster. Not preparing for battle, or picking fights you cannot win due to pride will result in a defeat.

Sun Tzu’s philosophy on war is impressive, and completely changed the way wars have been battled. The philosophy is way ahead of its time, and many of the fundamental things Sun Tzu mentions are taught to military leaders up to this day. Sun Tzu’s philosophy is an effective plan to win wars, and to outsmart your enemies through careful planning and artistic strategizing. All in all, the Art of War is an impressive piece of work that still shows its fundamental teachings today in our nation’s military.

WC: 404

The Art of USNA

If there was a word to describe Sun Tzu, solely from his writings in The Art of War, it is tactician. Meaning “a person who uses a carefully planned strategy to achieve a specific end” (www.dictionary.com). This philosophy is evident as he preaches hand to hand combat as a last resort, maintaining that “ultimate excellence lies not in winning every battle but in defeating the enemy without ever fighting (The Art of War 15). This is an extremely effective way to overcome an enemy for when done correctly, is done without any loss of life. Using The Art of War as a template for what a commander should strive for, there are many similarities that the Naval Academy employs, and a few differences.

Keeping with the overarching theme of winning a battle before fighting, Tzu proclaims that “War is… a matter to be pondered carefully” and that “Victory belongs to the side that scores the most in the temple calculations before the battle” (The Art of War 3-8). Every midshipmen at the Academy forgoes a leadership curriculum designed to stimulate thought on the right vs. wrong in war, and highlights the qualities of a great leader. The course also includes extensive personal reflection of past experiences to promote self-improvement, which aligns perfectly with the teachings of Sun Tzu as he writes: “The general is the prop of the nation. When the prop is solid, the nation is strong. When the prop is flawed, the nation is weak” (The Art of War 17).

Lastly, Sun Tzu proclaims that before attacking in hand-to-hand combat, a commander should attack his enemy’s alliances. In keeping with this statement he states: “Without knowing the plans of the feudal lords, you cannot form alliances” (The Art of War 41). For this very reason, that each midshipmen is educated in the ways of their own government, as well as the history of other nations’ governments. This provides insight to the modern day conflicts that the United States is involved in, and allows more informed decision-making to be made.

If Sun Tzu were here today he would not agree with the praised stories of the Naval Academy. Sun Tzu taught: “In war, with forces ten to the enemy’s one, surround him; with five, attack him; with two, split in half. If equally matched, fight it out; if fewer in number, lie low; if weaker, escape” (The Art of War 16). This conflicts with the celebrated stories of the Naval Academy, The Battle of Thermopylae being one example. The story of a few thousand soldiers rising to fight an army numbering in the hundreds of thousands does not comply with the teachings of The Art of War. Especially when the author teaches that physical conflict is a last resort. The story of the Greeks standing up to the Persians is revered in the Academy however, even residing on the Superintendent’s books-to-read list. All in all The Art of War remains one of the most studied books in history, not only for military purposes, and is followed by many great institutions like the Naval Academy. Its doctrine of skillfully overcoming an enemy has saved many lives.

Star Wars in Antiquity

Michael Shubert

Star Wars in Antiquity

In Star Wars, specifically the later episodes, there is an empire that is trying to conquer the galaxy. The “Empire” from Star Wars has a similar structure and even takes similar actions as the Roman Empire. The Empire establishes a government funded military to conquer new planets. There is standard equipment and standards rules for every military personnel. Having standard equipment and expectations reinforces loyalty of each soldier to the generals of the Empire. The equipment also gives the Empire the advantage in its military campaigns against less powerful and developed militaries. A government funded military is also seen in the Roman Empire. The Roman military was more advanced in military technology and tactics due to the supporting government funds. Soldiers were also extremely loyal to their generals. Both empires sought to expand their borders and eventually spread themselves out too far. The Empire from Star Wars had border planets that were mostly filled with criminals and rebels, while the Romans had surrounding lands filled with “barbarians.” Whether it be Jabba the Hutt or a barbarian, both empires experienced trouble in managing the vast amount of land acquired through campaigning. Both empires sought to improve their abilities in managing the spread out empire. In Star Wars, the Empire creates outpost planets commanded by generals that are meant to patrol a certain sector of the galaxy, while the Romans split the empire into different sectors ruled by various leaders. Both empires suffer from a succession of leadership. In Star Wars, emperor Palpatine is killed and the empire experiences a power vacuum which is later filled by emperor Snoke. The Roman Empire also experiences power vacuums after certain emperor’s die. One such example is when Emperor Vespasian is succeeded by his son Titus, who only lives a couple months as emperor. The quick succession of emperors makes it hard for the Roman Empire to get a strong structure. Next, are there similarities between modern America and the Empire? Yes, there are similarities between modern day America and the Empire. Similarities include trade and a power presence throughout the known world. The U.S. relies on trade between nations to help grow its economy just as the Empire relies on trade between planets. The U.S. also makes it a key point to have a forward presence throughout the world. Being able to strike anywhere and respond quickly to threats anywhere gives the U.S. a major advantage in power projection. The same advantage is seen with the Empire. Rebels are always being intercepted and attacked by the Empire. In response, the Rebels are thought to be foolhardy to even think about taking on the Empire.

Michael Shubert 445

Top 10 Battles of Succession: Concubine 1 vs. Concubine 3

Michelle Therianos

The Wanli Emperor, Zhu Yijun, did not like his wife. It was not necessarily that he hated her, but rather that the arranged betrothal was simply loveless. Married at the tender age of 13, he and Empress Wang Xijie were only lovers in fine print. The distance between them only grew when she was unable to provide a male heir, their only legitimate child being a female, Princess Zhu Xuanying. The emperor did have his concubines, though, and several of them. It was from these consorts’ children that the emperor was to name an heir, given that his legitimate wife remained sonless. The courts preached primogeniture, but the emperor had other ideas.

The first of his consorts to give birth was Consort Gong, who bore Zhu Changluo. In theory, this child would inherit the throne, as he was the first-born son. The emperor, however, vehemently refused to listen to his advisors on the matter of inheritance. His intention was to name the son of Consort Zheng, his third concubine, the heir because he loved her and hated Consort Gong. Straying away from primogeniture, the emperor denied tradition for 15 long years, a fact that alienated him from his court. He eventually folded and named Zhu Changluo the heir apparent, but he died unhappy with the decision.

This specific battle of inheritance was such a big issue because Emperor Wanli was, for the last portion of his 48-year rule, inadequate. Prior to the question of an heir apparent, he had already instigated a fight with his ministers, going as far as arranging a formal strike against them for over 20 years. He stopped holding court with his officials, ceased replacing ministers that died or retired, and refused to read petitions and memorandums, thus allowing the eunuchs to take control. His refusal to work with them about his sons was something of a “last straw,” the final, condemning blow to his image. This behavior goes against Confucius’ writings, which state “when he commits a fault, he is not afraid to amend his ways” (The Analects 1.8); the emperor was stubborn and feuded for decades instead of fixing his issues. In my opinion, the emperor should have just agreed to name his first son the heir, as it would have alleviated years of tension between him and his officials. Concurring would have also improved his dwindling public opinion. It was after this specific feud on inheritance that the emperor was truly gone, deaf to the Chinese people and their needs. If the ruler and his court had agreed on the matter, China could have perhaps been saved from almost a score of insufficiency and rot. By focalizing his own displeasure and failing to care for China, the emperor violated more of Confucius’ ways by going against “the gentleman considers the whole rather than the parts. The small man considers the part rather than the whole” (The Analects 2.14).

Word Count: 485