Military lessons from the Vietnam War and modern strategy

Military Lessons of the Vietnam War

The objective of this study is to examine the military lessons of the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War occurred more than twenty years ago. It was a war that is painfully remembered by many however; over time, it is possible to more clearly assess the events of that war.

Military Lessons Examined

The National Observer article entitled "Lessons From the Vietnam War" states that three conclusions emerge from the recall of the Vietnam War including: (1) The U.S. military effort "followed rather than led" and this relates that rather than introducing large forces immediately so that the situations could be dealt with decisively "the American build up took place only over many years." (National Observer, 1999, p.1) Secondly, it is stated that the U.S. And South Vietnamese efforts were affected by "serious failures of intelligence" and specifically that the movements of the North Vietnamese troops was not sufficiently monitored. Stated third is that the psychological war "war of paramount importance in destroying the will of the Americans to restrict the propaganda of the communists had a predictable content. (National Observer, 1999, p.1)

The work of David H. Petraeus notes that it has been stated in other works that American virtues do not include time and patience "when it comes to intervention…in protracted events." (p.50) The observation is made by an Army Colonel at Ford Hood, Drew Middleton that "the United States should not engage in war unless it has a clear idea why it is fighting and is prepared to see the war through to a successful conclusion." (2010, p.51) The conviction has arisen, according to Petraeus "when it comes to the use of force, America should either bite the bullet or duck, but not nibble. "Once we commit force," cautions Army Chief of Staff General John Wickham, "we must be prepared to back it up as opposed to just sending soldiers into operations for limited goals." (p.52) Petraeus states that policy-makers who employ the lessons of the Vietnam War or of any past event "should resist the American tendency for overgeneralization." (Petraeus, 2010, p.53) Petraeus cites the advice of Mark Twain as follows:

"We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it -- and stop there; lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove lid again -- and that is well; but also she will never sit down on a cold one." (Twain in Petraeus, 2010, p.53)

III. Cooperation and Support From Colleagues

Communication with and cooperation and support from my colleagues is of paramount importance in fulfilling the goals and objectives of the medical facility in my role and Clinical Unit Leader. In fact, without the cooperation and support from my colleagues and in the absence of effectively and timely communication, it would be impossible to fulfill the objective of patient care in the Clinical Care Unit. The effort to coordinate scheduling both within the Clinical Unit and beyond the Clinical Unit with other areas of the medical facility results in the alignment of goals of health care provisions and in optimizing the use of personnel and resources.

IV. Lessons that Assist in Accomplishment of Missions More Effectively

The Vietnam War was ineffective due to failures in the lines of communication and the ranks of command during that war. The goals were set in Washington but those calling the plays were not in touch with the playing field or as noted in the work of Petraeus, the one ordering the meal was not around to pay the check when the waiter presented it. While it is true that leaders are not always on site, it is critical that leaders have an open line of communication with those who are hands-on so that the decisions made will be practical and decisions which serve to support the effort rather than decisions that are ill-informed and ultimately ineffective and even in the nature from which disaster and ultimately defeat arises.

Summary and Conclusion

The lessons of the Vietnam War are ones that can be effectively utilized for one in a position that involves strategic thinking, tactical thinking, and logistics to ensure an effective outcome.