This course explores the social, political, economic, and military dynamics of irregular warfare, focusing on the tactical to strategic intricacies of conflict among state and non-state actors. Cadets gain insights into the complexities of irregular warfare in competition and conflict through a comprehensive examination of theoretical frameworks and practical case studies.
Why do men rebel and how do states react? DS460 examines the nexus between social movements, revolutions and insurgencies and introduces cadets to how this is applicable to national security and policy. Cadets will apply theoretical frameworks to analyze insurgencies from the individual, community and state level and understand applicable counterinsurgent strategies. Cadets do this through historic case study analysis, group collaborative projects, and both oral and written communication. Graduates will be able to analyze internal conflict and understand how this applies to national security policy.
Why do men rebel and how do states react? DS460 examines the nexus between social movements, revolutions and insurgencies and introduces cadets to how this is applicable to national security and policy. Cadets will apply theoretical frameworks to analyze insurgencies from the individual, community and state level and understand applicable counterinsurgent strategies. Cadets do this through historic case study analysis, group collaborative projects, and both oral and written communication. Graduates will be able to analyze internal conflict and understand how this applies to
national security policy.
Why do men rebel and how do states react? DS460 examines the nexus between social movements, revolutions and insurgencies and introduces cadets to how this is applicable to national security and policy. Cadets will apply theoretical frameworks to analyze insurgencies from the individual, community and state level and understand applicable counterinsurgent strategies. Cadets do this through historic case study analysis, group collaborative projects, and both oral and written communication. Graduates will be able to analyze internal conflict and understand how this applies to
national security policy.
DS460, Counterinsurgency Operations, exists in order that cadets will 1) demonstrate a theoretical and pragmatic understanding of insurgencies, to include their temperaments, composition, strategies, employment, and irregular battlefield operating systems; 2) demonstrate a theoretical and pragmatic understanding of counter-insurgency operations, and the interrelationships between the environment, operations, enemies, and strategies; 3) demonstrate a command of historical U.S. counter-insurgency doctrinal concepts, how they relate to theory and strategy, where they are inadequate, and where they are beneficial; 4) demonstrate sound analysis and application of key course concepts using historical case studies; and 5) improve oral and written communication skills. This course begins broadly and then narrows in order to integrate theory and strategy with tactics and practicality. The first sub-course introduces the insurgency, an understanding of which is essential to leading, organizing, and implementing successful operations against it. In the second sub-course, students examine counter-insurgency operations from theoretical, strategic, operational, tactical, and practical perspectives. The final sub-course presents three historical case studies intended to engage each student's learning with both analysis and application. At a minimum, DS460 requirements include: an oral presentation that evaluates the success or failure of an historical insurgency; a short biographical paper on the methods and persona of an historical irregular warrior; a WPR that requires cadets to think through a counterinsurgency scenario in branch specific roles; and a TEE that requires cadets to examine methodologies from successful historical case studies within the scenario of a failed historical case study.
