Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 1998-12 American culture, military services' cultures, and military strategy Haynes, Peter D. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/32645 '.. NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL Monterey, California THESIS AMERICAN CULTURE, MILITARY SERVICES' CULTURES, AND MILITARY STRATEGY by Peter D. Haynes December, 1998 Thesis Advisor: James J. Wirtz Second Reader: Daniel J. Moran Approved, for public r~lease; distribution is unlimited. Preceding Pages· Blank ---------- REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form ApproVed OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED December 1998 Master's Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE American Culture, Military Services' Cultures, and Military 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Strategy 6. AUTHOR(S) Haynes, Peter D. 8. PERFORMING 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) ORGANIZATION REPORT Naval Postgraduate School NUMBER Monterey, CA 93943-5000 9. SPONSORING I MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Defense Special 10. SPONSORING I MONITORING AGENCY Weapons Agency REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. 12a. DISTRIBUTION I AVAILABIUTY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE Approved for public release; distribution unlimited. 13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words) The knowledge of one's culture is critical for success in statecraft and strategy. Yet, perhaps because it is so pervasive, the influence of one's own culture on strategy, defense preparation, and the conduct of war tends to escape notice. The influence of American culture on strategy, however, does not escape the notice of America's potential enemies. This thesis explores the Amencan approach to strategy from a cultural perspective. It examines characteristics of American culture and the cultures of the four US. military servIces, which influence the US. strategy-making process. It explains how these characteristics formed and how they might influence American strategy. Unlike traditional explanations of the US. military cultures, such as Carl Builder's The Masks of War, this analysis examines the services' cultures from a more operational perspective. This thesis emphasizes the role the services'· respective operating environments pIal in shaping their divergent perspectives on strategy, joint command structures, and doctrine. Cultural sel - knowledge allows American strategists to recognize when aspects of American culture and the cultures of the services ma make some strategies possible, desirable, or unimaginable. It allows American strategists to recognize wh en ooliticalleaders' ~oals and the services' strategies may be j>Oorly_ matched. 14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF Strategy, military strategy, American strategic culture, organizational culture of the U.S. PAGES military services, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps 139 16. PRICE CODE 18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF 20. UMITATION 17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF 19. SECURITY CLASSIFI- CATION THIS PAGE OF ABSTRACT REPORT OF ABSTRACT Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified UL NSN 7540-01-280-5500 Standard Fonn 298 (Rev. 2-89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239-18 298-102 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. AMERICAN CULTURE, MILITARY SERVICES' CULTURES, AND l\fiLITARY STRATEGY Peter D. Haynes Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1986 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the reqt:rirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS from the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL December 1998 Author: Approved by: ~.. ~ Frank C. Petho, Chairman Department of National Security Affairs iii ABSTRACT The knowledge of one's culture is critical for success in statecraft and strategy. Yet, perhaps because it is so pervasive, the influence of one's own culture on strategy, defense preparation, and the conduct of war tends to escape notice. The influence of American culture on strategy, however, does not escape the notice of America's potential enemies. This thesis explores the American approach to strategy from a cultural perspective. It examines characteristics of American culture and the cultures of the four U.S. military services, which influence the U.S. strategy-making process. It explains how these characteristics formed and how they might influence American strategy. Unlike traditional explanations of the U.S. military cultures, such as Carl Builder's The Masks of War, this analysis ex~ines the services' cultures from a more operational perspective. This thesis emphasizes the role the services' respective operating environments play in shaping their divergent perspectives on strategy,joint command structures, and doctrine. Cultural self-knowledge allows American strategists to recognize when aspects of American culture and the cultures of the services may make some strategies possible, desirable, or unimaginjible. It allows American strategists to recognize when political leaders' goals and the services' strategies may be poorly matched. v TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 II. EARL Y AMERICA .................................................................................................. 15 III. MODERN AMERICA ............................................................................................. 27 IV. U.S. ARMY .............................................................................................................. 39 V. U.S. NAVY .......................................................... ;.................................................... 55 VI. U.S. AIR FORCE .. :................................................................................................... 71 VII. U.S. MARINE CORPS ............................................................................................. 87 VIII. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 101 BIBLIOGRAPHy ............................................................................................................ 115 INITIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST .................................................................................... 123 VB ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my professors at the Naval Postgraduate school. Bert Patenaude motivated me to examine different perspectives of international organizations and law and international relations. David Yost compelled me to contemplate the relationship between strategy and culture. Ken Hagan, Jan Breemer, and Mitch Brown helped me understand the fascinating "dim and religious world" of the world's greatest navy. Dana Eyre taught me to think critically. While.researching the thesis, Dana provided invaluable advice on understanding the relationship between culture and behavior. Chairman Frank Petho taught me how to lead and manage with humor and enthusiasm. Frank Teti and Claude Buss enlarged my mind and infused in me an undying passion for history. I take great pleasure in acknowledging my advisors, Jim Wirtz and Dan Moran. They challenged me to pursue excellence, endured my lapses of doubt, and meticulously edited this product. They have set an example for academic pursuit, thoughtful command of war and strategy, and enthusiastic mentoring that I hope someday to emulate. I will have fond memories of my time spent under their tutelage. Throughout my graduate studies I have drawn my strength from an enduring faith in God, family, and country. I thank God, for He deserves credit for any talent I possess or accomplishments I achieve. I thank my lovely wife, Monica, for her overwhelming support and love. The loving encouragement of my wife and our children continually sustains me. IX EXECUTIVE SUMlVlARY Strategy is not made in purely rational terms. Rationality is inherently conditioned by one's culture. Culture consists of a set of general and ordered beliefs, attitudes, and assumptions that establish pervasive and long-standing preferences. Culture is a sociologically based, ideational framework that either presents decision-makers with a limited range of options or acts as a lens that alters the appearance and efficacy of different choices. These cultures shape perceptions and affect what individuals notice and how they interpret it. It screens out some parts of reality while magnifying others. Because it imposes a degree of restraint on behavior, culture may make it difficult for states and militaries to develop sensible and realistic approaches to the strategic problems that confront them. This thesis explores the Americ"an approach to strategy from a c~ltural perspective. It examines