Elton Akins

The Military Decision-making Process: a Software Tutorial Elton Akins

Publisher Marketing: This HTML-based tutorial provides a comprehensive and in-depth program of instruction on key Army concepts for the student. It may be used and easily understood by both the novice and the experienced, singly or in groups. It is designed to operate over a number of popular browsers, with a final goal of running in a stand-alone configuration from a CD-ROM. It also hosts online features, such as hot links to informational web sites, if internet connectivity is available. The software architecture allows easy modification of current scenarios and introduction of additional scenarios without major code rewriting. This course of instruction was produced over two generations of Air Command and Staff College student officers, with its target audience of both Army and other services' officers. A major emphasis of this project was to add a second scenario to the previous product. Its focus on a multi-MTW (Major Theater War) has direct applicability to the AWC/ACSC wargame, Tandem Challenge. The lesson hosts four main areas: Military Decision-Making Process; Exercises; Reference; and Help. This tutorial draws its references from the most current editions of Field Manual 100-5 [Operations] (June 1993), and Field Manual 101-5 [Staff Organization and Operations] (May 1997). This tutorial has been organized in a user-friendly manner to promote learning. A document outlining the software architecture and programming code is provided for future maintenance activities. The universality of this tutorial is assured, as all information herein is of a non-classified origin and approved for public distribution.